No doubt you’re familiar with the push to reduce our carbon footprint and help save the planet. And perhaps you’ve joined the effort. For example, you might eat local, organic foods that do not need to be shipped in from faraway places. You might wash your clothes in cold water to save on carbon dioxide emissions. And if you’re in the market for a new computer, you might go for a laptop instead of a desktop. Maybe you just like being able to carry it around. But the fact is, a laptop uses less energy than a desktop computer.
This brings us to eco-friendly technology. Is this something you’re into—perhaps without realizing it?
LED and solar
You might be using LED technology in the light bulbs you use around the house. Maybe even use LED lights on your motorcycle, so other drivers can see you and your bike better after dark. You might also use solar panels in your home to save money on your energy bill. But did you know that you can also buy solar-powered phones? How about solar-powered laptop chargers? And now that you know a laptop is more energy-efficient than the desktop computer you’ve been using, how about a tablet?
Tablets and laptops
There are various sizes of tablets, and people are increasingly interested in using them to access the internet. Tablets are smaller than laptops. They’re light and easy to carry around. Building a tablet takes a limited number of materials. In addition, a tablet has no moving parts, which not only reduces the materials needed but also cuts down on energy usage when the device is up and running.
On the other hand, laptops are heavier than tablets, but most have bigger screens. While a larger screen is easier on the eyes, it represents an energy drain. The laptop’s hard drive and fan also increase energy usage. All things considered, they are not as eco-friendly as tablets. The good news is that laptops don’t often end up in landfills. Many users donate them to charities or schools—and some bring their used laptops to us at Urban E Recycling.
Dell: An example of sustainability
I’m pretty sure that you’re familiar with Dell computers, so let’s briefly look at how they are addressing the matter of eco-friendly technology. Their Latitude model is the first PC to use reclaimed carbon fiber and tree-based bioplastic. Their commercial monitors are designed with 85% recycled plastic and the dying process for their EcoLoop Carrying Case uses 90% less wastewater. Other electronic device companies have restructured their manufacturing processes to include similar examples of green technology.
Next steps
Interested in more eco-friendly insights? There are a number of websites you can visit to learn more about this subject. The Environmental Magazine at https://emagazine.com/eco-friendly-technology-is-already-here-learn-how-to-use-it-every-day/ is one such example. In the meantime, remember to recycle your old or end-of-life electronic devices. We’re standing by to accept them. At Urban E Recycling, we’re interested in reducing carbon emissions, just as you are, and in doing what we can to help save the planet.
