Monday Blues, Ep. 11

On April 22, 2010 the 40th anniversary of Earth Day was recognized. Founded by US Senator Gaylord Nelson in 1970, Earth Day brings about a global awareness that we need to all do our part to prevent global warming and climate change. Overall, the underlying focus is that we appreciate, love and take care of the environment.

It is truly amazing how much progress was occurred since the inception of Earth Day awareness. One particular initiative, green computing, helps to provide an awareness that we need to be environmentally responsible regarding our usage of computers and related resources. So how do we practice green computing?

Turn off the computer

Do you let your computer go idle or leave it on when you sleep? Turn it off and unplug it. Your computer will consume less power and generate less heat this way.

Use a laptop

If you have a laptop, make it a point to use it more often than your desktop. On the average, desktop computers use about 150 watts of power every time they are used. Compare that to the mere 25 watts that laptops consume.

Go paperless

Many times we print material that is not really needed. Do you really, really need to get that document printed? If it is not necessary for you to make printouts of that document, then do not do it.

Recycle your paper

Are you in the habit of throwing away sheets of paper that you have already used? If the other side is still blank, you can still reuse it as scratch paper. You can also let your paper pile up and then take it to your local recycling center.

Dispose of items the right way

Various items such as old CRT monitors, empty toner cartridges and even computer parts if not disposed of correctly can damage the environment. Most major cities have recycling centers that can handle proper disposal of these items and in some cases offer pickup services.