Becoming energy efficient isn’t a new concept for most of us in our everyday lives, but it’s now also becoming increasingly more relevant in the digital world. Simply put, green computing is when you approach maintaining IT equipment with a more environmentally-friendly mindset. It can and does cover all aspects of the manufacturing, designing, disposing of, and overall usage of most devices.
Modern data centers, for example, economize and are kinder to the environment by monitoring heating, cooling, ventilation, and equipment downtime. Moving as much online as possible solves many environmental and energy-consuming problems as well. Many organizations are using “edge” computing to allow for smaller centers that are easier to handle.
The way we recycle our devices can also make a difference. Nearly 54 million metric tons of “e-waste” were created across the globe in 2019. And of that, only about 17% was recycled properly, helping the planet in the process. Organizations can help by repurposing devices to get longer shelf life, or can donate them to credible nonprofits and charities. Just keep privacy issues in mind when you do turn your computers over to a worthy cause, and make sure the information of the previous users is destroyed. Many of us already recycle outdated parts like batteries, paper, and printer cartridges.
Here are a few quick tips you can start implementing right away to start on your journey to a greener environment:
- Look for the Energy Star label on all hardware you purchase.
- Set your computer to go into sleep mode in a shorter interval of time.
- Buy energy-efficient monitors like OLEDs and save battery life.
- Use dark themes or dark mode on your device as it consumes less energy.
- Screensavers don’t actually save energy. They use up power when they are on, so disable them.
Contact SavePoint today to see how we can transform your operations for the better!