Green IT

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Overview

Green IT lets you configure your computer to consume energy only when the computer is in use. You can set and schedule actions that take place at specific time or when the specified idle time is exceeded. In addition, you can configure an energy profile that controls the optimal use of computer resources.

Performing actions when idle time is out

In the Idle timeout field, enter the maximum timeout.
Near Idle action, select what Green IT action to perform when the timeout is over.

Configuring power profile

In the Green IT | Power profiles section, the advanced settings are defined. Green IT actions (hibernate, sleep or shut down) are performed if all conditions defined here are met. If no changes are made in the section, the default values are applied. For desktop computers powered from the wall socket, only AC (Alternating Current) column is shown. For laptops (powered from the wall socket or from battery) and desktop computers powered from uninterrupted power supply, both AC and DC (Direct Current) columns are displayed.

Power profile performing can be cancelled if a program defined as an exception is functioning. For details, see Exclusions.

Object	Setting Group	Setting	Description
Processor	Idle Settings	Idle sensitivity	Percentage of processor loading. If the current percentage is lower than the defined number, it is considered as idle.
		Mouse and Keyboard sensitive	If checked, mouse and keyboard clicks are taken into account. If unchecked, Green IT action is performed if all other conditions are met, despite the fact that keyboard or mouse are in use.
		Idle timeout	When time is over, “Idle action” performing is initiated.
		Idle action	Defining what must be done when computer is idle.
	Throttle settings	Throttle settings	Allows Windows to slow down processor speed to reduce power consumption. Adaptive (lowers the performance of the processor to the lowest voltage available whenever there is insufficient demand to justify a higher voltage; engages processor clock throttling if the C3 state is not being utilized, and in response to thermal events). Constant (does not allow the processor to use any high voltage performance states; will not engage processor clock throttling, except in response to thermal events). Degrade (does not allow the processor to use any high voltage performance states; engages processor clock throttling when the battery is below a certain threshold, if the C3 state is not being utilized, or in response to thermal events). None (no processor performance control is applied; the processor runs at its highest possible performance level; this policy will not engage processor clock throttling, except in response to thermal events).
	Throttle settings	Forced throttle	Level of slowing the processor speed down (in percent).
	Fan settings	Fan throttle tolerance	Low limit of processor speed when fan turn on.
Monitor	Display timeout		Set how long computer is inactive before the display turns off.
Disk	Spindown timeout		How long the hard drive is inactive before the disk turns off.
Devices	Enable Autoplay	CD/DVD USB	Fast way to enable or disable autoplay that appears on each device connection. Please, restart the computer for the setting to take effect.
	Allow the computer to turn off devices	Network adapters	Fast way to enable or disable autoplay that appears on each device connection. Please, restart the computer for the setting to take effect.
	Allow the computer to turn off devices	USB Root Hub
	Allow devices to bring the computer out of standby		If this setting is allowed, power consumption is higher.

Planning tasks

Green IT | Scheduler allows to perform Green IT tasks automatically. In the settings tab, define what actions are performed before executing scheduled tasks. For details, see Changing settings.

Creating a task

Click Create on the toolbar.
The New task dialog appears.

In the Name field, enter a task name.
In the Action drop-down menu, select what action to perform. For details about the difference between sleep and hibernate modes, click the external link to Microsoft help.
Select when to perform the action (one time or regularly).
Click OK to confirm.
The new task appears in the Scheduler list. In the Description column, the summary of the task is shown.

Disabling a task

Clear the check box in the Active column. You are allowed to disable only your own tasks with icon, administrator tasks can not be disabled.

The task remains disabled till the moment you enable it back.

Editing a task

Double-click a task. You are allowed to edit only your own tasks with icon, administrator tasks can not be edited.
The task dialog opens.
Make changes.
Click OK to confirm.
The text in the Description column changes according to the changes made.

Deleting a task

Select a task from the list.
To select multiple tasks at the same time, hold down the Ctrl key while clicking.
Click Delete on the toolbar. You are allowed to delete only your own tasks with icon, administrator tasks can not be deleted.
The entry is deleted from the list.

Managing exceptions

In Green IT | Exception programs section, define which programs and processes limit the power profile settings. These exceptions are applied only to the power profiles settings. They have no influence on the performing of tasks created in Scheduler.

Creating an exception

Click Create in the toolbar.
The New program dialog appears. In the Applications tab the currently running applications and opened directories are shown. In the Processes tab, you can see the currently active processes.

Double-click an application/a process.
The application/process appears in the right column.
To select a closed program on your computer, click Open in the Manually tab.
Click .
Define the Activity settings:
- Check Network utilization to take network activity into account.
- Specify how much % of CPU a program must use to be considered as an active one.
Click OK to confirm.
The dialog closes. The settings are applied and affect the settings defined in Power profiles.

Editing an exception

Double-click an exception. You are allowed to edit only your own exceptions with icon, administrator exceptions can not be edited. Edit the exception and confirm with OK.

Disabling an exception

Clear the check box in the Active column. You are allowed to disable only your own exceptions with icon, administrator exceptions can not be disabled.

Deleting an exception

Select an entry and click Delete on the toolbar. You are allowed to delete only your own exceptions with icon, administrator exceptions can not be deleted.

Changing Settings

In Green IT | Settings, define settings for executing Green IT tasks. These settings influence only the performing of the tasks created in Scheduler, they do NOT take effect on Power profile settings.

Displaying a message before executing a task

To display a message with which the action can be postponed to a later date before executing the action, enable the Show a message before performing a scheduled task option.
The field for defining a time interval appears.
Enter the number of minutes before shutdown/sleep/hibernate to display the message or how many minutes the action can be postponed. If you confirm that the action must be postponed, the message will reappear once the time interval expires. The process repeats until the action is finally executed.

Saving documents automatically

To automatically save documents opened in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Power Point, Access) before executing the action, enable the Automatic saving of documents option. If the document hasn’t been saved before, it is saved to the My documents folder.