Sustainability at Home

Why should you care about being sustainable?

According to the United Nations there will be more than 10 billion people living on Earth by the year 2100. The rise of the population means that there will be more demand on supplies and energy, and because we have already used a huge amount of non-renewable resources, they will soon be depleted.

A common misconception is that being sustainable takes extra time, extra effort and extra money, but contrary to popular belief, reducing your environmental impact doesn’t have to mean overhauling your entire lifestyle. By making a few changes to your routine you can be more sustainable, leave a lighter footprint on the planet and save money! Being sustainable also allows you to be creative; you might even discover a passion for it.

Here’s how to adopt sustainable living patterns at home...

Turn it off

Energy conservation is one of the most important things you can do to reduce your carbon footprint. There are many ways you can avoid using unnecessary energy. From the basic “turn off the lights and electronics when you aren’t using them” to replacing traditional light bulb with LEDs.

You can also get a Smart Thermostat, ensure your home is properly insulated, identify and unplug energy vampires. These so-called “energy vampires” are appliances that continue to draw power from electrical outlets, even when turned off, costing you considerable amounts on your energy bills. Finally consider if you can reduce the use of appliances, do you really have to start the dishwasher if it’s only half full? And if the environment doesn’t motivate you, think of the savings on your energy bills!

Switch to renewables

Changing your energy supplier to one that’s 100% renewable is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint, such as Green Energy UK. All renewable energy sources like solar, wind, geothermal, hydropower, wave and tidal power are forms of sustainable energy with low environmental impact and naturally replenished.

Fix don’t throw

Today’s throwaway society is putting the planet and often our finances at risk. We replace phones as soon as there is an upgrade available, and buy things for short-term purposes, without really considering the effects on the environment.

Extracting resources and manufacturing new gadgets creates lots of carbon. On top of that, electronic devices require a range of different critical raw materials, which are often mined in countries where labor standards are not ideal. Shipping also uses a large amount of fossil fuels. For instance, shipping to the UK accounts for around 3% of all the carbon emissions this country generates. Try to hold on to your things, don’t overbuy and when you, do consider second-hand. Good for the planet, good for the wallet!

Recycle as much as you can

Look at the way our items have been packaged, and ask if there is a more sustainable option. If it’s an option, opt for loose fruit and vegetables in the supermarket and pack them into paper bags rather than buying the plastic wrapped multi packs. Or, even better, bring your own grocery bags to avoid any unnecessary material usage. Recycling protects ecosystems and wildlife, saves energy and reduces demand for raw materials. Opting for products contained in recycled and recyclable packaging can be an easy way to join the sustainability movement!

Digital activity has a high cost

Coronavirus lockdowns have led to a huge reduction in global emissions, but one area where energy usage is still up is internet traffic. Data is invisible but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t do any damage. The internet’s data is stored in massive data centers all over the world which are powered 24/7, and have a significant number of back-up devices. This combined operational energy use and huge amount of hardware adds up to a significant carbon footprint.

Techbuyer is doing its bit by creating a data centre tool which will make server configurations more efficient, namely by reducing emissions waste and emissions. Find out more about this here.

There are a few ways to reduce this environmental cost. If you are sharing an office, when possible have a meeting rather than sending tens of emails about a project. You can also detail where to find a work document in an email, rather than attaching the same document back and forth with edits.

When meeting up with a friend, you could talk over the phone rather than always video streaming, as it is more environmentally friendly. Whilst we have been keeping in contact with one another over phones and laptops, digital doesn’t look set to replace ‘in person’ communication after the pandemic. This means that the associated carbon emissions of transport, e.g. driving to see family and friends, is set to rocket again once lockdown restrictions are no more. It’s worth being mindful of our carbon footprint and keeping unessential journeys to a minimum

Stream less

Go to the cinema instead! There is evidence to suggest that streaming a movie at home has a bigger environmental impact than driving to the cinema. According to experts, six hours of streaming video is the equivalent of burning one litre of petrol, due to emissions from the electricity used to power the data centres that deliver the video.

Less food posts on Instagram!

The pictures that we post online go through multiple networks and data centres, which require plenty of electricity to function. This process releases vast amounts of CO2 in the atmosphere. If you’re interested, this BBC article describes our social media cost in an accessible way.

Sometimes data impacts our environment in ways we can’t imagine, often times with knowledge comes the feeling of overwhelmingness. At Techbuyer we like to think that change doesn’t happen overnight; it happens with small informed steps.


Techbuyer is a sustainable IT solutions specialist. As a circular business, we can manage our clients' entire IT lifecycle; from providing new or refurbished replacements, providing upgrades and repairs, and buying back used IT equipment.

With sites across Europe, the US and Asia Pacific, we help thousands of organisations across the world to maximise their IT budgets. We provide a range of services including secure data erasure for used IT equipment, refurbishment, Configure-to-Order servers, IT repairs and upgrades. Find out how we could help your business today.

If you want to read more about sustainability tips keep your eyes open for the “Sustainability in the office” blog which is coming soon.