Is it more energy efficient to turn your computer off when not using it?

Well a computer uses less energy than a toaster but at the same time generates unwanted heat in the house and consumes energy. So not only leaving it on uses energy but also the heat i9t generates warms your house up to causing your airconditioner to run more. Now this may not seem significant but when you add up everything you have in your home that is left on you will see it could eventually cost you more money and wasted energy.

Live life a little bit...turn the dang thing off and go have some fun........

"Cheers to Rediscovering life away from the computer"

It does not take more energy to boot the computer, but it does take time. If you can do other things while your computer is shutting down or booting, then turn it off. It saves energy, fans and other components and reduces heat. If you don't mind running an electric heater in your room, then leave it on. Also, if you want to be able to do spot checks here and there, you should also leave it on. You might want to consider using Stand by or Hibernate functions instead of shutting down during the day. At night turn the thing off.

One thing to consider is remote access software is not possible if the PC is off. Another thing to consider is that Trojans and virus software can not run if your PC is off. Having your PC off will make it hacker proof while it is turned off.

Definitely saves energy if your computer is not on all the time, however Windows has built in power management options that can significantly decrease the amount of energy use when the computer is not in use.

It saves energy. I once saw on MTV that unplugging things when they aren't being used saves a lot of energy and money too. Maybe, if you know you'll need the computer in not too much long just leave it on. Any other time it would help to turn it off. If it will be off for awhile you could leave it unplugged.

Yes.

Consider the amount of time it takes to boot it up and shutdown. Does your computer site idle longer than that? If so, then you have your answer.

I was turning my computer off all the time and it just died. so I have a new computer now and I just log off instead of turning the whole thing off.

Every time you turn the computer on and off you stress all the components. I turn my computer on when I get up, and turn it off before going to sleep. ~

It depends on how often you turn it on and off. It takes more electric to start everything up than to just leave it on.

you could get a kill-a-watt device to measure it. One day leave it on. another day turn it off/on each time.

yes

ummmmm yeh it is alot