Green IT - some simple ways to start
Last time we took a slightly cynical look at the mountain of green rhetoric we are all being subjected to these days. This week we are trying to cut through the marketing propaganda to give some suggestions that are practical and usable for all organisations – not just the huge ones with large budgets and resources.
First of all, forget about the hype and get back to basics. Remember the recycling mantra:
- - Reduce
- - Reuse
- - Recycle
Reduce is an easy one. Ensuring your computers and printers are shut down at night and not just left on standby will cut down on wasteful power consumption and immediately improve your green footprint. Remember to also switch off monitors when not in use – you can adjust the settings to switch off after a certain period of inactivity. Laptops (and even some PCs) can be set to go into a standby lower power mode if not used for a set period.
Reducing your office paper consumption is another hot issue. You could use less by using both sides and thinking before you print – do you really need ten copies in full colour? Using cheaper low-grade or recycled paper for general use and keeping high-quality paper usage to a minimum is another simple green solution.
Also, don’t forget that a lot of the simple greener changes you have probably already made at home can be carried over into the office – like using low energy bulbs and rechargeable batteries.
Reuse your IT equipment for as long as it is practical and economical. Upgrade only when extra features, speed or processing power is essential – or if the equipment is particularly old and “power hungry”. Some organisations use snazzy new computers that are far more powerful than necessary to run simple office applications. Older machines with less powerful processors could simply be fitted with additional memory or bigger hard disks to remain in service. If you do need a new computer, check the manufacturers website to how green (both in terms of power consumption and the components used) – and when choosing a manufacturer, consult independent organisations such as Greenpeace (www.greenpeace.org/electronics) who regularly monitor how well the main manufacturers are truly doing on the green front or visit the EPEAT website (www.epeat.net) where an increading number of PCs, notebooks and monitors are evaluated and scored according to set environmental criteria.
Think about refilling rather than discarding your printer cartridges. (But take care to check manufacturers warranty if your printer is new because sometimes use of third-party consumables can lead to warranty exclusions.) National companies such as Cartridge World have outlets across the UK where you can take your empty cartridges to be refilled. Or, if you prefer, you can also buy special kits and refill the cartridges yourself – though this can get messy and isn’t always particularly successful. By reusing your cartridges you will not only help save landfill space but you can save money.
Recycle! Under the European Union’s Waste Electrical and Electronic (WEEE) Directive, all manufacturers of electrical equipment are responsible for its environmentally friendly disposal, and the infrastructure required for collection. This allows old equipment to be reused and recycled where possible, with any potentially hazardous components properly disposed of. Your IT supplier may well have facilities in place to recycle your old equipment, if not consult your local council website or national one like www.recyclenow.co.uk.
Once again, the recycling efforts you probably make at home can be reproduced in the office. Don’t forget that not only can your waste paper be recycled, but cans, bottles, cardboard or even plastics. It might not be as easy or cheap (unlike the private house refuse collection facilities provided by councils, most commercial waste collectors will only provide recycling collection at an additional cost) but with a bit or organisation it can be done – and a bottle or can recycled from your office will save just as much energy and resources as one from home.
There are many green options available for smaller organisations and even small changes can make a difference to the environment - and also to your finances. Here are some links you may find useful:
www.netregs.gov.uk - Waste Legislation Information
www.itsnoteasybeinggreen.org/forum - Internet forum with ‘green office’ ideas (amongst many other green topics)
www.donateapc.org – “matchmaking” service for people wanting to get rid of old IT equipment and people wanting to recycle it
www.globalactionplan.org.uk – helping organisations reduce their environmental impact.
www.greenpeace.org/electronics – highlights green IT issues and produces regular reports of how much manufacturers are truly doing to be greener
www.epeat.net - contains details of of PCs, notebooks and monitors that have been evaluated and scored according to set environmental criteria
www.recyclenow.co.uk - website is dedicated to raising recycling awareness and promoting responsible waste management
Any questions or comments? Or any useful websites you would like to see added to our list? Just leave a comment or contact us (details on the About Us page) and we will do our best to help.
