Computers help many Seattleites live greener with tools like email, online bill pay, paperless reading and more. But it's important to use them wisely. Most computers add about 10 percent to the average household's electricity consumption if left on 24 hours a day.

We hope you agree that Googling at a moment's notice isn't worth wasted energy and CO2 emissions. Use these tips to turn your computer into a green machine.

• Turn it off. Turning off your computer for just 8 hours a day (while you're asleep) saves as much as 500 lbs. in CO2 emissions a year. With more than 250,000 households in Seattle, you can see how the savings add up. Use a power bar to make powering down even easier.

• Opt for a laptop. Laptops use only about 30 watts during regular use. That's less than 1/4 of the 200 watts consumed by a desktop computer!

• Skip the screensavers. It takes as much energy to keep those hypnotic fish swimming as it does to surf the web. Use sleep mode instead of a screen saver.

• Reduce the brightness. The brighter your monitor, the more energy it uses. Decrease the brightness and increase the contrast to save.

• Go for flat.  LCD flat screens are up to 66 percent more energy efficient than traditional monitors, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

• Look for the Energy Star label. Monitors and computers that have earned the Energy Star label use as much as 60 percent less energy than standard equipment.

Interested in purchasing an Earth-friendly computer? Visit the Energy Star website to search for green machines. Then find a responsible place to recycle your old model using the Take It Back Network.