<sect1 id="energy">
<sect1info>

<authorgroup>
<author>
<firstname>Mike</firstname>
<surname>McBride</surname>
</author>
</authorgroup>

<date>21/10/2000</date>
<releaseinfo>1.00.00</releaseinfo>

<keywordset>
<keyword>KDE</keyword>
<keyword>KControl</keyword>
<keyword>energy</keyword>
</keywordset>
</sect1info>
<title>Energy</title>

<sect2 id="energy-intro">
<title>Introduction</title>

<para>This module is useful for any computer having a monitor labeled Energy Star
Compliant.  (Energy Star Compliant equipment is equipment that can be configured
to automatically enter a power saving mode when appropriate, without human
intervention.)</para>

<tip><para>Energy Star Compliance can be applied to nearly any electrical
device.  This module, however, does not spin down hard drives, does not shutdown
printers, <abbrev>etc.</abbrev> These settings only affect the behavior of your
monitor.</para><para>For information on shutting down components on a laptop, do
not use this module.  Instead, refer to the module entitled <link
linkend="powerctrl">Laptop Power Control Center</link>, for
details.</para></tip>

<para>In the case of computer monitors, the computer can control the monitor,
switching it between 4 states: On, Standby, Suspend, and Off.</para>

<note><para>The following lists of states is a generalization, and you may find
that your monitor will differ from the descriptions below.</para></note>

<para>"ON", is the normal operation of your monitor while you are using it.</para>

<para>"STANDBY" is usually a minor power saving level.  This setting usually
involves blanking the screen, and not firing the electron gun, but keeping the
electron gun "energized" and ready to go. When you need to use the monitor
again, the monitor will come back on very quickly.</para>

<para>"SUSPEND" mode, is a very low power alternative. With most monitors, the
screen is blanked, the electron gun is shut down, and the magnets that control
the electron gun are powered down.  While the power saving is substantial, to
reactivate the monitor may take up to 10-15 seconds.  The computer should always
be able to return the monitor to On or Standby while in suspend mode..</para>

<para>"OFF", usually means just that.  The computer monitor is turned off.  This
usually means that the computer will not be able to turn the monitor back on by
itself.  Obviously, this keeps power consumption to a bare minimum (zero).</para>

</sect2>
<sect2 id="energy-use">
<title>Use</title>

<para>To use this module, is very simple:</para>

<para>If your monitor is Energy Star Compliant, then you should put a mark in
the check box labeled "<guilabel>Enable Display Energy Saving</guilabel>".  This
will activate the Energy saving commands. </para>

<para>The next three slider bars, tell the computer how many minutes of
inactivity before automatically switching to a new state.  These numbers can be
adjusted with either the sliders, or the spin boxes.</para>

<note><para>These times are not additive, but all start counting at zero.</para>
<para>As an example:</para>
<para>If you set the Standby Mode to 10 minutes, the Suspend mode to 20 minutes,
and the Power off at 30 minutes, and you stop using your computer at 9:00, then
the monitor will:</para>
<para>Enter Standby mode at 9:10, enter Suspend mode at 9:20, and shut the power
off at 9:30</para></note>

<para>When you are happy with the settings, click "<guibutton>OK</guibutton>".</para>

</sect2>

<sect2 id="energy-author">
<title>Section Author</title>
<para>Mike McBride <email>mpmcbride7@yahoo.com</email></para>
</sect2>
</sect1>
