How your technology can be lean, green and carbon efficient machines

Date Created: 27th Oct 2022

orange background with graphics of a tv, pc, laptop, games console, smartphone, chrome cast, vr headset, bluetooth speaker, tablet and smartwatch

There’s never a wrong time to sift through the ways we can live more sustainably, and Grace has been getting creative through out-of-the-box thinking for her final blog. Throughout, we’ll be sharing the carbon emissions and different options of the tech industry and its’ most popular devices; particularly those that you’re likely to use if you work from home.

Our Environmental Journey is about reducing our impact and promoting environmental responsibility within our organisation and beyond because, as a collective population, a nation, a business, and as individuals, we all have a responsibility to take notice and take action against climate change.

The average U.K household has 9 internet connected devices (that figure is only for those in current use; it doesn’t include the old models buried away!), including: smartphones, laptops, PCs, tablets, smart speakers, smart TVs, video doorbells, fitness trackers etc. Sound familiar? We would love to help you make more sustainable choices when buying technology, and introduce you to the numerous ways you can scroll, type and dial greener.

The concept of WFH was rarely heard of pre-Coronavirus, and now many of us are either hybrid working or never visit the office at all. Naturally, this is a more environmentally friendly way to work than before as the emissions associated with commuting are negated when you’re travelling to the spare room!

But as with everything, there is a carbon cost. Below we’ve included some tips on how to get that professional carbon footprint down:

But what about in your down time – your smartphone and TV for example?

It’s a little-known fact that every time a term is searched, or a page is loaded, 4g of carbon emissions is expelled. This may sound a small amount, but it’s not if you’re entering dozens of search terms a day! It’s hard to cut these habits out, but making a simple adjustment like switching to the green browser Ecosia can lighten the atmosphere somewhat. (See what I did there?) This search engine plants a tree for every single time their service is used – that’s millions of trees so far!

Another simple change to make? Unplugging devices as soon as they’re charged. A straightforward way to ensure we don’t leave them on longer than necessary is not charging overnight (which is also a big no-no for fire safety.) An extra incentive is that your battery wears down much faster when “over-charged”, contributing to replacing it earlier than planned! Many public facilities such as buses, trains, cafés, libraries etc now offer free USB and 3-pin plug charging – so make use of it! Whether you plug your device straight in or load up a portable power bank, it’s kinder to your energy bill.

So, you really do need a new smartphone/laptop/PC. But how to go about correctly disposing of your old one?

How do you go about maximising the lifespan of remaining usable parts? And how to find decent quality second-hand models? We’ve got several tips for you:

Dozens of companies now run trade-in schemes where you get cash in exchange for old devices (whatever condition they’re in.) You may not always receive top dollar, but you’re at least saving the item from landfill, and it could be re-conditioned or split for parts.
Leading on from the above point, the same websites (and others) offer re-conditioned phones in like new condition for a fraction of the cost of the new model. The lifespan may be shorter, but you’re at least delaying disposal and saving yourself many pounds in the process.
Is the device as defunct as a dodo, or could it be fixed? We often automatically assume that we must replace something when it goes wrong, but it’s worth getting the once-over from a tech expert (especially if you have phone insurance!)
Local education providers and community groups are often desperate for any devices they can access to improve their service offer, and don’t mind if they’re a decade old – providing they have life left. Facebook groups, community websites, poster boards in supermarkets etc are great places to look for this.
If you are set on buying new, make time to thoroughly research the market and read the reviews of the device that jumps out at you. Is the lifespan typically a long one? Does the battery last for hours at a time? Is there enough storage space for your files, apps, updates etc? And are core components like the SSD/HDD drives, ram, battery etc upgradable/replaceable?

This is such an extensive subject, but hopefully we’ve helped unpick some of the questions you may have around getting greener with tech, and supplied ideas for when you need them! We’d love to hear if you found any particular tip or insight useful, and we always love to know what you’re doing to be a more sustainable consumer.