Does A Black Background Use Less Power?

peter_d · 10-22-2007, 04:28 PM

Google turned their homepage black on Saturday, in support of Lights Out San Francisco, an effort to raise awareness over energy use.

People have often speculated that a black background display uses more power than a white background, but apparently this is a myth.

http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2007/...new-green.html

Quote:

We applaud the spirit of the idea, but our own analysis as well as that of others shows that making the Google homepage black will not reduce energy consumption. To the contrary, on flat-panel monitors (already estimated to be 75% of the market), displaying black may actually increase energy usage. Detailed results from a new study confirm this.

Skinny · 10-22-2007, 04:57 PM

No. When there is a black background the amount of power to get the display to show black is nothing. White is full brightness and requires much more power.

Skinny

peter_d · 10-22-2007, 05:01 PM

Here's the test: http://techlogg.com/content/view/360/31/

Quote:

However, the power consumption difference between Google and Blackle on all 23 LCD monitors was as small as you could get – an increase of 100mW (0.1Watts). So after all that testing, we’re in a better position to say that anyone else that Blackle makes next to no difference, on average, with LCD monitors.

Skinny · 10-22-2007, 05:45 PM

Hmm yes that might be true for LCD screens. For CRT screens there is a difference. Unfortunately they aren't as popular anymore.

Bernard · 10-22-2007, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skinny

Hmm yes that might be true for LCD screens. For CRT screens there is a difference. Fortunately they aren't as popular anymore.

FIFY

x3mario · 10-23-2007, 09:35 AM

Quote:

We applaud the spirit of the idea, but our own analysis as well as that of others shows that making the Google homepage black will not reduce energy consumption. To the contrary, on flat-panel monitors (already estimated to be 75% of the market), displaying black may actually increase energy usage. Detailed results from a new study confirm this.

I think this is only a myth...there is no changes even if you turn your site to black background.....I only believe in this if there is concrete scientifically explanation about this one.

Hanthunius · 10-26-2007, 06:58 PM

Anyone who knows how a lcd work will know that this whole black background energy saver thing is a myth. the lcd has a backlight to light the whole panel, and a lcd layer on top of it to add the coloring like those old 3d glasses, but rgb and with brightness control of light scape.

BWDir · 10-29-2007, 08:37 AM

i prefer blending the Ads with my site