The topic of electronics and their sustainability came up when the need for a new printer was needed for Justin’s home office. While doing a search for a printer that would provide the necessary printed materials, the EPEAT (https://www.epeat.net/) logo and designation were on a couple of the printers that were being considered. Not knowing what the logo or name stood for piqued our curiosity. Were there ways to purchase a new printer (or other electronics) that were less harmful to the environment?
The thought that electronics are harmful for the environment is not a new one. The production can be harmful because of the materials that are needed to produce components of any electronic. The idea of needing the latest and greatest gadget is also part of the problem because this produces a lot of waste and need for more production (i.e., raw materials and energy). Finally, even if the electronic is recycled, there can be a problem because of the toxicity of the materials used for different components of an electronic item and how/where they are recycled.
Additionally, we must consider the problem of energy use or waste. The fact is that many of us live with cell phones always on, Google Nests and other smart devices ready to answer any question, TV’s and speakers at our fingertips for entertainment, laptops plugged in waiting for us to use for work or school, and printers sleeping while waiting for us to need a paper copy of something. Electronics account for a great deal of wasted energy just waiting for us to need them. We can control these energy vampires in our homes and businesses. An easy and relatively inexpensive way is to install a smart (advanced) power strip to stop them. Depending on the type of strip, it will shut down all energy at the source so that when your electronic is off, it is really off. The graphic below from The National Renewable Energy Laboratory is a great resource in helping decide which would work best for your situation.
https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy14osti/60461.pdf
Energy use is an easy fix with our electronics, because, as we always say, the easiest way to save energy is to turn it off. Smart power strips will help with the constant task of turning off our electronics. However, the production and recycling of electronics is more difficult. In the next blog we will delve into the topic of purchasing electronics that are better for the environment with tips on what certifications to look for and organizations that are helping make this an easier choice.