Blackle - the energy saving search engine

**Polyal** · 29-10-2007, 09:49 AM

Right, firstly note that I dont particularly care much for saving the planet unless I feel like it actually does something. Changing light globes and such Ill do if my normal ones bust etc.

So an acquaintance and I got into a little debate about whether or not www.blackle.com actually does anything at all.

I said no, basically because if the monitor is on, it doesn't care what colour the pixel is it just does as its told; therefore its still using the same amount of power as any other site. Its not like the black parts on the blackle screen "turn off". Further to this, I said that if the graphics card is somehow needed on a site or picture app then yeah ok, that might require some more power. So basically, I think the site is a crock.

She was of the opinion that yes, it does work, and she works for the Government and all there PC's have it as there homepage and it was "recommended" to them to be used. She said "read the information and study"; naturally I didn't (thats like reading an instruction booklet) purely because for the life of me cant see how it saves anything.

Actually it strains my eyes a little, thats about it.

So what do you think? Yes its a good idea and saves power? Or no, what a joke!

Hunter · 29-10-2007, 10:58 AM

Actually it would save power.... but the amount would be so ridiculously small its not funny.

The guy who created even admitted that it didn't really do anything to save but it was more about promoting discussion and getting people thinking about their energy usage/global warming etc.

**Polyal** · 29-10-2007, 10:59 AM

So it would save power compared to googles white layout?

The only way I can see it saving power is if the site has no pics, so it loads quickly; but then why not just use google.

Hunter · 29-10-2007, 11:02 AM

Well it would save power if it had a black screen as opposed to a white screen but there's two important points:

1) It would likely only have a measurable affect on power consumption on a CRT screen.

2) The savings are only realised over a long period of time and only if you spend a lot of time on google (which some people do, but not everyone).

The problem with point 1 is that people are replacing CRTs at a pretty quick rate these days so the effect would be limited...

the_scotsman · 29-10-2007, 11:14 AM

I agree with Hunter. The power saving would be so minute, it wouldn't be noticeable.

As the maker says, more of a way to promote the energy saving topic than anything...

fmc351 · 29-10-2007, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hunter

Well it would save power if it had a black screen as opposed to a white screen but there's two important points:

1) It would likely only have a measurable affect on power consumption on a CRT screen.

2) The savings are only realised over a long period of time and only if you spend a lot of time on google (which some people do, but not everyone).

I think you probably need to think globally not locally.

:

Donut King · 29-10-2007, 05:31 PM

See this article regarding blackle
http://dansdata.blogsome.com/2007/07...e-environment/

View Poll Results: Does www.blackle.com "save" power?
YES - Blackle SAVES power	2	18.18%
NO - Blackle does NOT save power	9	81.82%
Voters: 11. You may not vote on this poll