Here are some interesting ideas from Joshua Pereira, Senior Associate Director of IT at the Center for the
Urban Environment (CUE), about ways that you can reduce your computer’s emissions and lessen the environmental impact of your computer. Go here for more information about the Center, which is located in Park Slope.
When you think of lessening your impact on the environment, how you use your computer may not come to mind. But, in fact, a computer that rarely gets turned off could produce close to a ton of C0² emissions per year.
Here are some ways to reduce your computer’s emissions while still getting your stuff done!
• In the market for a new computer? By doing a quick search on the internet with the phrase “sponsor a tree planting,” you can find an organization that will help you do just that. Recently, some computer manufacturers have made this even easier, by offering to plant a tree on your behalf during the checkout process.
• Adjusting your Power option settings can always help to save some electricity. You can set your monitor to turn off after 10-15 minutes, and have your system go into Stand-by mode after 20 minutes of no activity on your computer. This saves your work, but puts your computer in a low-power mode while it’s not being used. And once you set it up, it will always happen automatically.
• Thinking of purchasing a new computer? Go for the gold (EPEAT gold that is)! EPEAT (The Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool – http://www.epeat.net/) is a website that rates the environmental impact of specific computer models. With a wide range of new models to choose from, make sure that your new computer is made by a company with your health (and the earth’s) in mind.
• Got an external backup drive? What about those awesome desktop speakers with a subwoofer? If you know you’ll be away from your computer for the day, don’t forget to turn them off too. To make easy, make sure they’re all plugged into one power-strip, and just flip the switch on that to shut everything down in one step.
Even if you take just one of these steps towards greening your computer, you’ll be making a difference—and by talking about the steps you’ve taken, you can inspire others to do the same.
Got any of your own green computer tips? Feel free to comment below.