CO2 Saver

It duplicates Windows functionality, but this freeware power settings app also adds a search box to your desktop and lets you know how much C02 you didn't create. CO2 Saver's interface is barely more than a search box and an options menu. Most could use this app with no instruction, and that's about what you get. A single online page serves as the program's introduction and instruction manual.

Setting CO2 Saver's options takes just a minute. You can use a four-option pull-down menu for preset values, or set custom values for Monitor shutdown, Disk Drives stop, and Sleep Mode settings. Each uses radio buttons and pull-downs to set minutes of inactivity before shutting down the item. Each item can be set from one to 9,999 minutes of inactivity. Shutting down the monitor is quick and painless. It's noted that some apps could interfere with shutting down the Disk Drives, but our testers didn't encounter this problem. The utility can initiate sleep mode if the system doesn't go into the desired mode properly. The search box is easily set to use Google, Yahoo, MSN, Ask, or A9 for searching. And, of course, you'll get to see how much carbon dioxide you saved with the settings.

You could easily use Windows Power options to manage these settings, but some may like seeing the environmental impact of their changes. C02 Saver is freeware and suitable for anyone.