Super Eco

Photo credit: kazuma jp, flickr

It's hard to think of playing video games as a green, sustainable hobby. All those cords, batteries, electronic consoles, big screens, remote controls ... Consider, though, that gaming equipment and games are typically one-time purchases. You have the option to rent, borrow or download many of the games. And certainly there are plenty of advantages (look, Ma, no drive time!) to having a hobby that doesn't require leaving the house.

Green your game with these sustainable steps.

1. Standby power savings is not really such a deal. Turn off your console when you're not playing.
2. Actually, while you're thinking about it—just unplug it when you're done.
3. Use rechargeable batteries.
4. Try before you buy—borrow from a friend or rent.
5. Like it? Don't buy. Rent, check out from the library or borrow from a friend instead.
6. If you simply must own a copy, download instead of buying to save on packaging, manufacturing and shipping costs. 
7. You may think you're saving resources by not buying a Blu-ray DVD player for movies, but your PlayStation uses 3-5 times more power to play a movie than a Blu-ray player does.
8. Use the Power Save setting on your PlayStation or Xbox.
9. When in doubt, go for the Wii version. The Wii uses only 16 watts of energy in active mode (versus 119 for PlayStation and 150 for Xbox).
10. Resell, trade or donate your old video games.
11. Connect to an Energy Star-compliant TV.
12. Recycle your waste, from cardboard boxes (we know, they're pretty—but you won't miss 'em, honest) and plastic jewel cases.
13. Dispose of broken systems responsibly. Most gaming consoles are full of toxic chemicals such as beryllium, bromine and phthalates. Try taking it to a video game store to use as a trade-in. Get rid of irreparable consoles via your local hazardous waste recycling system.