Which is more expensive: PC running 24 hours a day 7 days a week OR an electric heater that runs 7 hrs daily?

Question

My husband leaves his computer on for 24 hours a day 7 days a week 365 days a year.

In the winter, I use the electric heater every night for 6-7 hours. My husband thinks it's a waste of energy and insists that I switch it off!

So I was wondering if can anyone tell me here which is more expensive?

Answer 1

Well, that depends.  Studies show that, on average, newer computers use 70W when active and 9W in low power mode.  Just assuming your husband's computer is always in low power mode when not in use, and he's not using it 20 hours per day, that's wasting 9 Watts * 20 hours/day * 365 days/year  = 65.7 kWh/year.

http://www.dssw.co.uk/research/computer_...

Electric heaters vary widely in their power consumption.  If you've just got a little portable one, it probably uses around 1000 Watts of power.  So you get 1 kW * 6 hours/day * 90 days/year (winter) = 540 kWh/year.

So if you consider the electric heater totally unnecessary, then you're probably 'wasting' more energy than your husband's computer.  It depends if he's got it in low power mode the whole time, but it probably goes to that setting automatically.

Answer 2

To get the right answer you need to look at the back of the heater and see the power usage IE 500watts,1200watts,1800watts,2400watts, so on the bigger the heater the more power usage.x7hrs per day for 7 days to get a tottal number of watts used per week

Then look at the back of the computer + the moniter + speakers or any extras that are run from the computer using seperate ellectricity plugs and add them together for a tottal figure same as above.

Which ever number of watts is higher is the obvious more expensive to run

Answer 3

Tell hubby to put his computer into sleep mode which should knock it down to around ten or less watts, that will help defer the power you use with your electric heater and not feel so bad.

I assume you are using a portable electric heater and they typically run at full power at 1300 to 1500 watts while your hubby's computer may pull upwards of 350 watts.

What I might suggest is depending on the size of room you are heating you might consider using an Infrared heater that heats you and not the room and can do it for between 500 to 1000 watts and is much more comfortable heat than forced air electric.

Answer 4

Yes I agree with the guy above me. Just do a test and turn off the computer and turn on the electric heater and then go to your meter and see how much that little spinning thingy spins(lol sorry my name for things that I dont know the name of). Then do it the opposite way and just see for yourself.

Answer 5

The PC uses anywhere between 60 and 250 watts.  you're heater uses a lot more than that--an elecric oven range draws too much electricity for our generator to run, and the generator can run the fridge and the well.  Basically, the heater uses a lot more.  if you want to use a space heater, I suggest a gas one.

Answer 6

No question about it, the heater takes far more energy. Still, I'd suggest shutting down both at night, getting some cozy jammies, flannel sheets, a soft quilt  and then snuggle till breakfast. A sleepy dog or cat might also help warm the bed.

Answer 7

In terms of energy, definitely stop with the heater. First, think, what do you need a heater on for at 3AM?? Second, sleeping in  a cooler environment will actually help your sleep.

http://www.bettersleep.org/OnBetterSleep...

Third, you could just throw on some more blankets or something if you are really that cool.

As for the computer, make sure it is on power save mode as much as possible.

Answer 8

Heater is much more power.

Answer 9

The heater is way more exspensive. Uses alot more power to run it.