We’re all guilty of it. We leave on our computers for hours at a time, even when we’re not using it or downloading something. Nowadays the fad is to be green, and it’s about time that happened. But being green doesn’t just mean buying green products, it means acting responsibly with the products you do have. So here is one super easy way to be a good green-pea -  make sure to turn off your computer when it’s not in use. But in case you’re absent minded, like myself, as part of their Power to Change initiative, they have created a special widget that will remind you to turn off your computer when you’re done for the day. So just by shutting down your PC, you’ll be helping reduce energy waste, curbing carbon emissions, and not to mention – you’ll also be saving money. Aside from giving you reminders, the widget also shows you your cumulative energy savings results, as well the combined results of other folks who are using the widget.

HP estimates that if 100,000 users shut down their work computers at the end of each day, energy savings could total more than 2,680 kilowatt-hours and carbon emissions reductions could total more than 3,500 pounds per day. This is the equivalent of eliminating more than 105 cars from the road each day.

For more information about HP’s Power to Change program and their other green initiatives, check out the Power to Change blog.