Here is a ridiculously easy way to save a TON of energy in your home. Four simple keystrokes every time you walk away from your computer for more than five minutes or so: Windows Key, Up, Enter, Enter.

The Windows key is the key between the Alt and Fn keys (on my keyboard anyway). It has the little Windows symbol on it. This key brings up the Start menu.

With the Start menu open, hit the up button to get to “Turn Off Computer.”

Next, hit enter, and then, Enter again, to put the computer in Stand By mode. (This assumes all Windows PCs default to standby after you click “Turn off computer.” If your computer does not, you’ll have to add one entire keystroke to this (left or right) to get to Stand By.

Your computer is now asleep and merely sipping energy.

When you get back to your computer, hit any key (sometimes you need to hit the power button, depending on your computer’s settings) to wake it up, and you’re back up and running in about 5 seconds.

There is really no reason not to be doing this. I do it with my laptop and two desktop systems, and my computers are now on standby for hours at a time each day instead of sitting unused burning energy.

If anybody has a Mac version of this, please share in the comments.

Also, remember that this does not completely shut your computer down, so you’re still using some energy. You should still shut it down completely each night when you go to bed, and then shut off the power strip it’s connected to for good measure.

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Easy peasy. But I’ll forget again, probably before this current project is done.

• I am now offering content strategy and content creation for our clients, including all manner of written material (more later), photography, screencasts, video, etc.
• I am lowering prices on some types of websites, and raising them for others. More details will be available soon.
• A monthly payment option will be available for small businesses, with one or two year agreements so you don’t have a huge cash outlay. More details soon.
• I’m hoping to do more training this year, including end-user training so clients are more comfortable their sites, as well as SEO, social media and other online training.

Stay tuned for more. I’m still working on putting the finishing touches on the new site and getting all my ducks in a row.

Thanks for visiting and being a customer!