Year of Sustainable Technology | 2023

Happy New Year! As 2023 gets up and running, and to tie in with the “Cleantech 2.0” era, Techbuyer has put together our best tips for developing sustainable IT habits that you can adopt this year.  


Let’s make 2023 the Year of Sustainable Technology! 


Firstly, you might be wondering what is Cleantech 2.0 - and what happened to Cleantech 1.0?  


According to Brunswick, Cleantech 1.0, which ran between about 2005 and 2011, involved renewable energy generation with huge investments in wind farms and solar panels. Unfortunately, it resulted in one of the biggest boom-and-bust sequences the tech sector has suffered, with billions lost after emerging clean, sustainable tech start-ups and initiatives failed.  


Today, however, Cleantech 2.0 is about much more than wind and solar – the focus is sustainable technology. In short, it refers to applying carbon savings and sustainability in technology across all aspects of the economy. With the aim to reduce emissions and save energy, as well as tech that removes carbon from the atmosphere. 


To get on board with the push towards net zero, and save energy (and money!), reduce environmental damage, and even maybe make a bit of extra cash, we can all adopt habits that will help boost the sustainable use of our tech.  


To help make your technology habits more sustainable, Techbuyer’s Sustainability Team has collected their top tips designed to make your IT more environmentally friendly:

 

1) Increase the Energy Efficiency of Your Technology Use:

 
It’s all too easy to forget about your devices and let them enter ‘sleep’ mode. Did you know in this state they are still consuming energy? Therefore, it is better to put your device, be it laptop, PC, TV, games console etc. in ‘shutdown’ or ‘hibernate’ mode because, even though a tiny amount of so-called ‘vampire power’* will still be consumed, less energy will be drawn than when simply letting the device rest. Similarly, only charging devices when you need to, rather than leaving them plugged in all the time helps prevent any vampire power drain. 


Alongside that, lowering the brightness on your monitor or device screen is a simple adjustment that can have a significant impact on energy use. You can manually adjust the brightness with your keyboard or in the settings menu.  


Another simple way to reduce energy consumption is to turn off and unplug accessories when you are not using them. For example, printers, external speakers, and external hard drives can drain power when not being used. 


In terms of software use, emptying your email inbox, using Teams and Zoom with your camera turned off, downloading media files, such as films and music, rather than streaming them, and finally closing all your open search engine tabs, allows you to use your technology in a more energy efficient way. 

2) Extend the Lifespan of your Technology  


To reduce your devices’ environmental impact, it’s a good idea to extend the lifespan of your technology. This not only prevents valuable technology and materials from ending up in landfill and ensures that you get the most out of your IT, but it also means less devices need to be manufactured, lowering overall emissions from the technology sector.  
 
Here at Techbuyer, we can give you options to do just that. Our IT Repairs service provides expert tech know-how to repair your technology when devices are broken. From cracked screens to broken batteries, repairing your technology can add years to the lifespan of your IT.  
 
Similarly, you can extend device lifespan and boost the performance of your devices through component level upgrades. This is an important practice for sustainable IT use as it can add years to the potential lifespan of your technology and ensure that you get the most out of your devices. Explore our component level upgrade service here.  
 
Another core sustainable IT practice is known as cascading devices. This involves taking older devices and giving them different uses depending on their capabilities. For example, what was once a powerful work laptop may very well be capable of managing household affairs or even children’s games rather than being declared unfit for purpose. If cascading assets isn’t an option, donating your technology to charities, such as Reusing IT or IT Schools Africa is a responsible and sustainable way to extend the lifespan of your tech.  

3) Sustainable and Responsible Disposal of IT and Electronics 


At some point, no matter what, your tech will reach the end of the road for you. But that doesn’t mean the end for your devices. You can extend the lifespan of your technology by disposing of your equipment in an environmentally responsible way. Using an IT Asset Disposition, Sell to Us, Trade in or (if no other option is available) recycling service, allows your technology to have a second life beyond your company or personal use. This allows you to ensure that your device does not join the growing tide of e-waste that is filling our landfills and causing environmental damage globally.

4) Choose Refurbished Where Possible

 
Did you know that 85% of a laptop’s carbon footprint is generated in the manufacturing process? And this proportion is similar for lots of technology! Therefore, choosing refurbished where possible is a great way to reduce the impact of your device on the planet. Refurbished IT offers high-quality devices that perform as well as new without having to undergo a carbon intense manufacturing process, making them an excellent choice for sustainable technology habits.

 
As the new year gets underway, we believe it’s the ideal opportunity to maximize the potential you and your technology have in promoting and implementing sustainability best practice with your IT. We offer a wide range of options to do just that. For more information regarding environmental sustainability best practice, give us a call or drop us a line. 
In the meantime, here’s wishing you and yours a fantastic 2023 from all of us at Techbuyer! 
 
*Vampire Power: This is a term used to describe the slight draw of energy that devices take when plugged in and left on standby or in a similar state. 

Relevant Articles and Links:  


Reusing IT.  
IT Schools Africa.
Why Techbuyer Believes in a Circular Economy.  
Techbuyer’s Commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Toxic Threat of E-waste.
Techbuyer’s Sustainable IT Solutions.  
Clean Tech 2.0
Clean Tech 1.0