8 Ways to Green Your Technology
by Trey Granger on April 22nd, 2008
Technology is a HUGE part of our daily lives. We carry around cell phones and media players, work all day on a computer and come home to watch television.
But electronic devices make up 70 percent of the toxic waste in our landfills. Here’s eight ways to make sure your need for information doesn’t compromise the environment.
1. E-cycle
Keep your electronics out of landfills at all cost. One option is to recycle your electronics using Earth 911. It could be a community event, a retail store or even a manufacturer take back program. All of these are better than your trash can.
2. Provide a Second Life for Electronics
Recycling electronics is important, but only if they no longer work. Consider options that will reuse this technology again and keep it out of the waste stream.
- Trade in video games and movies for credit at stores that sell these items
- Donate your televisions and computer monitors to a second-hand store
- Offer your old cell phone to a service provider so it can be refurbished
3. Reach for the Energy Stars
Electronics use up a lot of energy. ENERGY STAR products can cut energy use by 50 percent. If you’re shopping for new electronics, check for an ENERGY STAR label. This covers computers and monitors, televisions and even battery chargers.
Some other energy-related notes for when you’re purchasing:
- Notebook computers use less energy than desktops
- LCD TVs use less energy than plasma TVs
4. Use Rechargeable Batteries
You already charge batteries for cell phones and laptops. So why are you buying disposable AA and AAA batteries for other products? Rechargeable batteries last up to three years longer, and are accepted by more recyclers than other batteries.
5. Power Down Inactive Electronics
Why keep your TV on when no one is in the room? Booting up a computer may take a few minutes, but at the very least turn off the monitor when it’s not used. Also, unplug chargers that aren’t in use. They still use energy even if they aren’t charging anything.
6. Lay Off the Heavy Metal
Deep inside our electronic devices lie potentially hazardous materials like lead and mercury. These metals are not only a health hazard to you, but make proper disposal of electronics a necessity for the environment. Manufacturers are beginning to respond to this by producing devices with less/no hazardous materials, so look for these in the future.
7. Be Responsible With Packaging
Electronics are fragile, so they come with lots of packaging. Whether it’s cardboard boxes, Styrofoam or plastic bags, all this material should be recycled. Cardboard can be recycled with your paper, and all plastic should have a number on it (e.g. Styrofoam is #6) used for recycling. Use Earth 911’s recycling locator to find out where you can recycle all your packaging.
8. Spring for the Warranty
Warranties allow for your electronics to be fixed instead of replaced, meaning they stay out of the waste stream. They also encourage you to keep products for longer, which is better for the environment.
If you are looking for new electronics, consider an upgrade instead of a new purchase.
- Use the same case for your computer, with a new motherboard and more RAM
- Get a digital converter to modernize the picture of your analog TV
This story is part of Earth 911’s “Green Eight” series, where we showcase eight ways to green your life in various areas. Click here to see Earth 911’s “Green Eight” archive.
12:34 pm on April 22nd, 2008
The Tech of Earth Day…
If you read this blog, the chances are good that you are a higher technology user than the average person. You have a
cell phone, computer (probably several including your work one), media players, several televisions and so on.
I remember being a …
8:29 pm on April 22nd, 2008
[...] came across an article titled “8 Ways to Green Your Technology” on Earth911. Pretty helpful [...]
8:43 am on April 23rd, 2008
[...] Eight Ways to Green Your Technology [...]
1:45 pm on April 25th, 2008
[...] But electronic devices make up 70 percent of the toxic waste in our landfills. Here??s eight wayhttp://earth911.org/blog/2008/04/22/8-ways-to-green-your-technology/Recycle those old cell phones North Platte TelegraphEvolution may lead humans to growing a third [...]
12:37 pm on April 26th, 2008
[...] But electronic devices make up 70 percent of the toxic waste in our landfills. Here??s eight wayhttp://earth911.org/blog/2008/04/22/8-ways-to-green-your-technology/Matsushita, Pioneer to merge plasma panel units MENAFNMatsushita, Pioneer to merge plasma panel [...]
5:17 pm on April 26th, 2008
Good info, thanks for the post. I’m always grateful for any information or ideals I can use to achieve a greener lifestyle.
1:54 pm on April 27th, 2008
Help me locate the website or organization that recycles 2ltr bottles. I ran into them last year and lost the information. They send you a shipping container, if I remember correctly. Or was this just a dream?
8:55 am on April 28th, 2008
[...] But electronic devices make up 70 percent of the toxic waste in our landfills. Here??s eight wayhttp://earth911.org/blog/2008/04/22/8-ways-to-green-your-technology/Kuwait News Arab TimesLONGVIEW, WA, : The US Army has found a potentially hazardous amount of lead [...]
4:07 pm on April 30th, 2008
[...] [...]
4:40 pm on April 30th, 2008
[...] green your technology. [...]
1:03 pm on May 2nd, 2008
Have heard that denim, including old and worn blue jeans can be recycled into insulation used in housing. But there don’t seem to be any drop off locations by the company doing the recycling (may be Cotton, Inc., not sure.) So, what is the name of the company doing this recycling and how can we get drop off locations established across the U.S. Think of the many, many construction workers who wear out their jeans quickly - I already throw my husband’s away when they get worn out.
Thanks for your insight!
6:01 am on May 3rd, 2008
[...] others), even buy old cell phones, and donate them to various charities. Earth 911 also offers a guide to lessen your electronics’ environmental impact, including many further options to breathe [...]
11:31 am on May 3rd, 2008
you could give a cellphone or a compuer that no longer works to a kid so they can play “make-believe”
11:51 pm on May 9th, 2008
[...] [...]
7:01 pm on May 12th, 2008
Very nice way to assure that technoly users know how to recycle old computers, radios and any and all electronics. It’ll help keep it all out of junkyards.
5:47 pm on May 15th, 2008
[...] [...]
3:22 pm on May 19th, 2008
Hey! Thanks for the great advice on how to conserve with electronics. I plan on using the tips to lower my footprint! I was browsing through a bunch of green websites and blogs and I came across yours and found it very interesting. There are a bunch of others I like too, like the daily green, ecorazzi and earthlab.com. I especially like EarthLab.com’s carbon calculator (http://www.earthlab.com/signupprofile/). I find it really easy to use (it doesn’t make me feel guilty after I take it). Are there any others you would recommend? Can you drop me a link to your favorites (let me know if they are the same as mine).
8:26 pm on May 19th, 2008
I tried to find a way to recycle styrofoam that comes in packaging and have had no luck yet, so far it’s all ended up in the landfill. Will your recycling finder include this? My local dump will not take it and neither will my curbside recycling program.
1:12 pm on May 21st, 2008
[...] Also, take a look at this helpful list for figuring out what not to dump down the drain, and this list for alternatives to those hazardous home chemicals. (Thanks to IdealBite for the heads-up.) And if you want yet another environmental to-do list, here’s how to green your gadget collection. [...]
7:09 pm on May 22nd, 2008
Just want to share, BenQ, a lcd and projector manufacturer is running a green campaign - Take a green pledge - to recycle and trade-in lcd display and projector. Rigister at BenQ’s site and BenQ will donate money to a environment charitable foundation while registrant also get a chance to win many products including a home cinema projector
http://promotions.benq.us/green/pledge.aspx
11:04 am on May 25th, 2008
[...] [...]
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