Frequently Asked Questions

What is power management?
Can I request a power management exemption for a computer?
How do I find the name of my computer?
When does my computer go into the sleep and hibernate modes?
How do I wake up my computer?
Can I set the power management feature on my computer?
Should I continue to turn off my computer at the end of the day?
Can I use a screensaver?
What are the cost savings?
Will power management be configured on my laptop?
Will power management be installed on my Macintosh?
How do I activate power management on my home computer?

What is power management?
Power management is a feature of some electronic equipment that turns off the power or switches to a low-power state when a device is inactive for a period of time. This feature reduces the power consumption of equipment when it is not being used and, therefore, effectively decreases energy costs as well as carbon emissions. When a power management feature is activated on a computer for example, a low-power sleep or hibernate mode is initiated on the monitor and CPU after a selected period of inactivity.

Can I request a power management exemption for a computer?
The implementation of power management is a presidential policy. If, however, you have a computer that runs processes overnight or is connected to a display screen (plasma or LCD) in a lobby or other public area, you can request an exemption.

To request an exemption from power management, log in to TUhelp.temple.edu and click Request Help. Then, in the Description field, enter the complete name and location of each computer and indicate that you are requesting exemption from power management.

If you have any questions, contact the Help Desk at TUhelp.temple.edu or 215-204-8000.

How do I find the name of my computer?
To find the name of your computer, right-click My Computer and select Properties. For Windows XP, click on the Computer Name tab.

When does my computer go into the sleep and hibernate modes?
Depending on how long your computer has been inactive, power management places your computer in a mode or state that reduces power. The following table identifies each of the low energy states, the equipment affected, as well as the time frame for each state.

State	Equipment	Minutes of inactivity
low power	monitor	20
	hard drive	30
sleep	monitor and CPU	60
hibernation*	monitor and CPU	120

*	Windows XP: Computer Services configures the hibernation state timeout.
	Windows Vista: Microsoft configures the hibernation state timeout, however, you can change this setting on your computer.

How do I wake up my computer?
To wake up your computer, simply press a key on the keyboard or, on some systems, touch the power button. When your computer is activated from a sleep state, you will be prompted for your password as a security measure.

Can I set the power management feature on my computer?
Computer Services will activate power management on PC computers* on the Temple and TU domains. This enables us to automatically "wake up" computers to conduct vulnerability patching, install antivirus updates, and scan for malware to maintain the integrity of the University network. To minimize interference during normal business hours, this routine maintenance is scheduled during periods of low usage.

*Non-Windows systems, such as Macintosh computers, are not included.

Should I continue to turn off my computer at the end of the day?
With power management, you will no longer need to turn off your PC and monitor when you leave for the day. Keeping your computer on will enable Computer Services to run system updates and install virus definitions at night when your computer is not in use.

Can I use a screensaver?
Most screensaver programs do not consume additional energy. These programs keep a system awake and, therefore, power is consumed when a system is inactive. Our power management configuration requires a blank screen saver to allow your system to sleep. This screen saver will replace any that you may have configured.

What are the cost savings?
When power management is activated, ENERGY STAR reports an annual savings of $25-$75 per computer.

Will power management be configured on my laptop?
Computer Services will set power management on your laptop only when you are connected to one of the university's Active Directories. When the system is not connected to a directory, you can reconfigure this setting.

Will power management be installed on my Macintosh?
At this time, Computer Services will not implement power management on Macintosh computers.

How do I activate power management on my home computer?
ENERGY STAR provides instructions for configuring power management for Windows XP and Vista as well as for MAC OS.