You can recycle any old computers (not just Apple’s), laptops, monitors or computer-related peripherals. They won’t accept copiers, TVs, overhead projectors, batteries not integral to computer systems, cracked or broken CRT monitors, UPS units or other toxic or dangerous items.

While this isn’t the only way to get rid of computers, and it follows scathing criticism of Apple’s environmental record, it’s certainly going to help get rid of Australia’s mountain of computer waste.

1. Turn off equipment that isn’t being used:

• Turn off computers at the end of the day. If you can remember to lock the door, you can remember this too.
• If you need to leave computers running (perhaps to run your backups after hours), then use the operating system’s timer feature so the computer turns itself off when it’s finished.
• Turn off computers at the power point, rather than leaving them on standby.
• Unplug mobile phone and camera chargers unless they’re actually being used.
• Even servers and Internet routers can be turned off overnight or across the weekend—unless they must be left on for remote access.

• Re-arrange power cords so you can turn everything off with one switch—- and still leave vital equipment running.

  2. Discourage printing: Read documents on screen wherever possible.

• Before you press “print”, ask yourself whether it’s really necessary.
• Use your software’s “print preview” to check the layout, rather than printing a proof.
• Set up an electronic filing system and backups, rather than printing documents “for the files”.
• Format documents for on-screen reading, rather than for printing. Use legible typefaces, wide line spacing and landscape format.
• Send documents by email, not the post.

• If you absolutely have to print it, use both sides of the paper.

  A hat-tip to AMP, who print the following message at the bottom of every email: “Please consider the environment before printing this email.”

  3. Buy more energy-efficient systems: And if you’re worried about cost, think about the entire life of the system, not just the purchase price.

• Laptops typically use less energy than desktop computers.
• LCD screens use less energy than old CRT screens—and they’re better on the eyes.
• If you buy bigger and better screens, people will be less likely to print things.
• Two screens provide an even bigger work surface which makes you more productive.
• Inkjet printers use less energy than lasers.

• Do you really need a big, power-hungry server just to share files in a small office? Networked hard drives are much cheaper, smaller—and use far less power.

  4. Moving away from IT:

• Consider whether air conditioning really needs to freeze your office in summer and turn it into a furnace in winter. If you don’t need to “dress up for customers—and most office workers don’t, business is done on the phone—then dress appropriately for the weather.
• Avoid pointless meetings and cut down on travel. You don’t need a face-to-face meeting just to discuss a document. Email the document and book a phone call. Explore on-screen collaboration tools and video conferencing. Your kids can use “video chat”, why can’t you?
• Turn down the lights, you’re not in an operating theatre.
• Turn off the lights in empty rooms.

• Install motion detectors on infrequently-used lights.

  5. And finally…

  Post a graph of your business’ energy consumption where everyone can see it—and celebrate when you reach your targets.

  Thanks to the Sydney Morning Herald and Eicolab for some of these tips.

  ]]> http://prussia.net/features/green_computing/feed/ 1 http://prussia.net/announcements/support_earth_hour/ http://prussia.net/announcements/support_earth_hour/#comments Sun, 04 Mar 2007 19:29:23 +0000 Stilgherrian http://prussia.net/announcements/support_earth_hour/ Prussia.Net is supporting the Earth Hour campaign. On 31 March at 7.30pm, we’ll be turning off the lights and shutting down all non-essential systems to help stop global warming. We encourage you to do the same.
  ]]> http://prussia.net/announcements/support_earth_hour/feed/ 0 http://prussia.net/green_computing/computer_waste_growing/ http://prussia.net/green_computing/computer_waste_growing/#comments Fri, 10 Nov 2006 23:24:36 +0000 Stilgherrian http://prussia.net/observations/computer_waste_growing/ Australians will throw 1.6 million computers into landfill this year. Another 1.8 million will go into storage—adding to the 5.3 million already gathering dust.

  “E-waste” (junk computers and other electronic goods) is now one of the fastest-growing waste categories, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

  Australians buy 2.4 million personal computers and more than a million TVs annually. But while we now recycle 46% of our waste, the stockpile of obsolete electronics keeps growing. Only half a million computers will be recycled this year.

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