Looking for ways to make using your computer a bit more sustainable? Try these seven tips!
1. Source your computers from a sustainable brand
If you’re truly an eco-warrior, determined to be as environmentally friendly as possible, start buying your computers from sustainable brands. For example, some laptop brands come with the EPEAT or ENERGY STAR labels, which indicate they are eco-friendly options. Other factors that make a laptop sustainable include:
- How easily the laptop can be fixed.
- Laptops made from recycled materials where possible.
- Laptops that use as little materials as possible, like the thin laptops made for portability.
- Laptops that are durable and don’t need to be replaced every year.
- If the company you buy from will recycle your old laptop.
2. Buy eco-friendly accessories
You can’t avoid buying plastic completely, but you can make eco-friendly choices when buying your computer accessories. Some companies use recycled plastic, upcycled materials, and reclaimed materials to make certain components. For example, you can get a mouse made from recycled plastic or plastic made from alternative substances.
Being able to choose computer accessories made with sustainable plastic is a big deal. For decades, plastic has been one of the most unsustainable, environmentally destructive materials humans have ever made. However, advancements in technology have changed the nature of plastic. It’s no longer a requirement to use petroleum byproducts to create plastic. Today, it’s made out of a variety of materials. For example, Plantic is plastic made from corn, and is used by many food manufacturers to cut down on waste and carbon emissions.
Either look for companies that make accessories out of eco-friendly plastic, or use recycled plastic. One great example is the Microsoft Ocean Plastic Mouse, which is made from 20% recycled ocean plastic. Other companies make computer mice from biodegradable wheat plastic, carbon fiber, and other materials.
3. Save power where possible
You probably can’t control how often you need to charge your laptop, especially if you use it for school or work. However, you can buy a laptop that won’t draw as much power during the charging cycles. Typically, newer devices are better at saving power and use less to start with.
You can also play with your energy settings to avoid draining your battery too fast. For instance, program your computer to put your hard drives to sleep after 30 minutes of inactivity, activate your screen saver, and make use of the built-in modes designed to conserve power. Lowering your screen’s refresh rate to around 60 Hz, not running unnecessary apps at startup, and using dark mode will also reduce power consumption.
4. Sleep or hibernate your computer when not in use
If you can’t or don’t want to make your computer automatically go to sleep when you don’t use it for a set amount of time, at least put it to sleep when you walk away and don’t plan to come back for a while.
5. Unplug your computer after you shut down
Any electrical device that stays plugged into an outlet will constantly draw power, even when turned off. When you shut down your computer, unplug it from the wall. As an alternative, plug your computer into a power strip with a surge protector and just turn off the strip. Having a power strip is a lot easier when you need to plug multiple things into the same outlet. It will also protect your computer in case of a power surge.
6. Take care of your computers
Whether you have a desktop computer, a laptop, or both, taking care of them is one of the most eco-friendly actions possible. Keeping your devices in good condition helps them last longer, which means you won’t have to replace them frequently and add to the trash in the landfills. Clean your ports and vents, and keep your devices away from food and drinks.
7. Use e-books over paper
Having a computer gives you access to a vast library of books and other content you can download and read at your leisure. Using e-books instead of buying everything printed on paper will save a lot of trees and ink.
Since you have a device, you can also choose paperless billing and just download your PDF invoice files sent over email. Switching to e-books and going paperless is a great way to become more eco-friendly.
Computers can support an eco-friendly life
Now you know several ways your computer can help you live a more eco-friendly life. You can’t avoid using devices completely, so you may as well make the experience as environmentally friendly as possible.