Earth be Glad >> Green tips for computing

Green tips for computing

You can begin taking action to let the earth be glad right here and now. Here are some green tips for computing to think about as you browse the St John's website.

Printing

These pages are full of information sheets and resources which you may well want to print out to read more easily. It's not hard to do this without being profligate with your paper:

  • Keep paper that's blank on one side for printing drafts. The letters that charities always send accompanying their magazines are ideal for this: find a place beside your printer to keep them for when you need them.
  • Use the 'two sheets to a page' function on your printer options. Most documents will still be easily readable.
  • Print on both sides of the paper
  • Pass on the documents you print out from this website to other members of St John's when you've finished reading them.
  • It is intended to make all the material on this website available in hard copy in St John's to browse and borrow, so you may not need to print out your own.
  • Recycle your printer cartridges in the bag on the noticeboard in the church hall.

Switching off

  • Switch off your monitor if you will be away from the computer for more than 15 minutes.
  • Switch off your computer if you will not be using it for three hours or more
  • When you finish, switch off the computer, printer, scanner, broadband box, and other hardware at the wall. This is easier if you plug them all into a multi-way adaptor so you only need to flick one switch. It will not affect their function, but if left on they may each be using a constant trickle of power.

Upgrading

  • Try to repair or upgrade your existing computer before rushing to buy a whole new one. Electronic goods use a great deal of energy and a wide range of raw materials to manufacture.
  • When you buy a new computer, consider a laptop, which can use a tenth of the power of a desktop.
  • When you buy a new monitor, consider an LCD monitor. They use around a third of the power of a conventional monitor and should also last longer.
  • Recycle your old computer, for example by giving it to the charity Pass IT on which collects computers in the Edinburgh area and adapts them for people with disabilities.

Earth be Glad >> Green tips for computing