this web site can save energy
 

I know this site is about being fuel efficient and what not but some of us are taking this into different areas such as being efficient at the house. Well wouldn't we save energy if the background of this website was a darker color? Every little bit counts. I don't know if this strains eyes because if this is the case then I guess this isn't so much of a great idea.

This has come up in various places (like on ecorenovator), and I think it's the general consensus is that for most screens black/white use the same energy and the others are sort of a toss up. That said, a black background would probably detract heavily from such a text-based site. It's a nice idea though. Perhaps we should all just use laptops, :)

Black consumes less than white only if you are using a CRT.

With LCD, just lower the back light intensity and you are saving. I have mine at 50%, except if my eye's comfort isn't enough.

Denis.

ahh, well i use my laptop instead of the desktop so that's good.

I just make sure to setup my power settings, standby, monitor off, etc. That way atleast I am saving when not on it. I used to leave it on 24/7 and realized WHY? Now I have it shut off monitor if idle for 10 minutes and standby mode after 20. It only takes about 5-6 seconds to come out of standby, might as well save money that way.

on the same topic, now that it's cold outside for 90% of the viewers of this website, it doesn't matter how much energy your computer or monitor uses; they become 100% efficient once you start paying to heat your home. Any electricity not used for computing/cooking/lighting purposes all goes into heating your home.
Congress passed a ridiculous bill phasing out incandescent light bulbs completely over the next several years. I wonder if they realized that incandescents are only less than 20% efficient in the un-heated months. A person in Maine or Alaska is wasting their money trying to buy efficient appliances most of the year.
/soapbox/

From what I understand white text on a black background is harder to read. Meaning you would spend longer reading the site then you would with the white background.

Just to add to this. I normally use a 21" crt monitor. It uses 98W with a black background and 120W with a white background. I'm currently reviewing a 22" LCD and it uses more elecricity on a black screen than white! Odd how that works huh? Its a very minimal amount at 42W on white vs 45W on black, but still odd.