Green computing: are your computers costing the earth?
Budgeting and buying ICT |
Current estimates are that ICT waste contributes at least 39 per cent of the 1 million tonnes of electronic waste generated in the UK each year. There are many different green issues that relate to ICT and they are fast moving into mainstream thinking.These include:
- reuse and repair of ICT equipment
- safe disposal and recycling of ICT equipment
- using less energy and less paper
- choices when purchasing new equipment.
Minimise impact
Research by the United Nations University concluded that by far the best way to minimise impact on the environment from a personal computer is to extend its useful life. Much of the energy required to manufacture a personal computer is used to make high-tech components like semiconductors which are destroyed in the recycling process.
Do you need a new computer?
The pressure to upgrade hardware and software drives the multibillion-pound ICT industry but there are cost savings as well as environmental benefits to breathing new life into an ageing computer before buying a new one.
Unless it is broken, the computer system on your desk may well do the majority of tasks asked of it perfectly adequately.Word processing, email, web browsing and spreadsheets are not high-end applications and require no more computing power than the average system was delivering several years ago. New computers are more powerful but you may make bigger gains from better time management than from marginally faster software.
- Upgrade the memory (RAM) or hard disk space as much a possible.
- Networks can be used to share applications, so the computer on your desk doesn’t need as much computing power.
- Open Source software such as Ubuntu may deliver the same features as the latest version of Windows, but perform faster because it uses less processing power.
- If you want wi-fi, try using a USB wireless stick that plugs into a USB port to provide fast internet access.
- Don’t use valuable space or processor memory on programmes and files you don’t use.
- If Microsoft Office slows to a crawl, try Open Office, the Open Source alternative, at www.openoffice.org.
Keep your computer ‘well tuned’ – keep system software up to date, keep files and folder tidy, use anti-virus and anti-spam software and so on.You’re more likely to want to keep a computer longer if it runs better.
Of course this advice is very general – specific solutions depend entirely on what computer you have and what you’re trying to do with it.Ask for advice from local environmental or recycling projects before deciding to dump your computer and get another.
Buying green computers
To make a green or ethical choice you may want to think about the environmental impact of the manufacturing process, any specific energy-saving features and the ease with which the computer can be recycled when you’ve finished with it. It’s also good to know that the company you are buying from is concerned about the environment and human rights.
There are a number of standards to look for, such as the eco-label, an EU initiative which sets standards for different product groups and is promoted to manufacturers as a marketing advantage. It promotes reduced energy consumption during use and stand-by, limited use of substances harmful to the environment and health, easy upgrades and reduced solid waste production.
Ethical Consumer Magazine website includes environmental best buys and corporate social responsibility best buys.
Buying refurbished or reconditioned equipment
A brand new PC may be too expensive for you, or you may want to see whether you can save money and resources by getting a refurbished system.There are plenty of charities selling reconditioned equipment and most large businesses dispose of PCs in large quantities, so may have reasonable goodquality machines to pass on.
- Waste Online lists computer recyclers and refurbishers
- ICT for Charities lists computer recyclers and refurbishers.
- Oxfam receives donations from the sale of new and refurbished systems by its partner 1st 4 Recycled Computers.
- www.donateapc.org.uk provides a matching service between people with computers to give away and good causes looking for a second hand PC, printer or other equipment.
Accepting a donated
or refurbished computer
If you’re tempted by the offer of a free or low-cost second-hand computer ask yourself a few questions:
- Can it do what you want? Can it run your current operating systems or the specific software you use? Check Microsoft Windows or Apple Mac websites for minimum requirements.
- Does it come with a monitor, keyboard and mouse? Does it work with any hardware or software you already have? Does it have a network card to enable you to join your network?
- Has any refurbishment been carried out to acceptable quality and safety standards?
- Can you choose the software, memory, hard drive or operating system it comes with?
- Refurbished computers may come with a warranty for parts but a donated machine probably won't.
- If it’s a laptop, has it been dropped? Make sure you see it working.
- Does it come with a licensed version of the operating system – such as Windows XP? Microsoft licensing is not straightforward and you will be liable to prosecution if you’re found using an unlicensed copy ofWindows, Office or any other software.