Super Eco

Photo credit: cliff1066

"Computing is not about computers any more.  It is about living."
Nicholas Negroponte

"After growing wildly for years, the field of computing appears to be reaching its infancy."
John Pierce

Computers have become an indispensable extension of ourselves, if we want to lower our own carbon footprint, let's not forget to evaluate the efficiency of our extended brain.

Here are a few green computer tips:

1. Look that phone number up in "ye olde phonebook", when you can, try not to use your computer for silly things like finding the phone number for your local pizzeria. Use your conventional dictionary for more than a doorstop!
2. Consolidate and limit your computer usage, treat your computer with the respect that you would afford any other energy sucking appliance, for example, you would not stand in front of your freezer in summer to cool off.
3. Power your computer and associated appliances, completely off when you will not be using them for extended periods of time.
4. Upgrade to a smart power strip, so that when you turn your computer off, the strip will shut off power outlets for your scanner, printer, fax machine etc..
5. Adjust your computer display brightness to a lower level, it will suck up less juice that way.
6. When it is time to replace you computer--recycle or donate your old one--switch to a laptop, they consume much less energy.
7. Do not use an animated screen saver--they do not save on energy--set your saver to "none" or "blank" to lower your computer's carbon footprint.
8. Consider environmentally friendly software.
9. Switch to a recycled bamboo keyboard!

Step away from your computer; take a walk, have a green moment, a Green Hour a green day!