Welcome to the Sustainable Geeks segment! This week, I’ve spent a bit of time reading about the impact of climate change on the environment, and thought it’d be a great time to dive into some of the things you can do to help minimize the impact that our gaming has on the environment.
Did you know that there’s an estimated 41.8 million tons of e-waste produced annually – that’s the same weight as about 205 million iPhones! Amazingly, less than a third of that is recycled – crazy, right?
Not all of the things we can do are simply about waste – sometimes it’s what we buy, when we replace things, how often we do these things, that can make a big impact on the world that we live in.
So, let’s explore some of the things that we can do to become more sustainable geeks – and to make sure we’re doing our bit for the environment!
Get Your Hands on Some Environmentally-Friendly Snacks!
Did you know that some of the largest snack brands globally use millions of tons of plastic annually to package and produce their products? For example, Greenpeace found that Coca-Cola was responsible for making more than one hundred billion bottles of single-use plastic, for packaging the soft drink we all know and love.
There must be a better way – something you and I can do to do our bit and help the environment out. It might seem tough, but fortunately, there are lots of companies thinking about ways that they can develop more sustainable products, through ways such as using biodegradable, recyclable or compostable packaging, and renewable food sources.
Have you ever considered purchasing from one of the many sustainable food companies that are operating in your area? These are companies that have committed to making their businesses more sustainable, through big steps such as changing their packaging and switching to renewable energy sources to cut down on waste. By purchasing from these businesses, you help contribute towards their sustainability goals and can do your bit to reduce the impact that you have on the environment.
Consider Renewable Power Sources, Like Solar Power.
If you live somewhere with regular sunshine, it’s a great idea to consider solar panels. For example, a 5-kilowatt power system can generate as much as 15 – 25 kilowatt-hours of power daily, depending on how many peak sun hours you get on a daily basis.
Solar power is a great way to offset some of the impacts of running a high-end computer regularly – for example, a system such as the one described above could effectively generate more than enough power to offset your daily PC usage!
Refresh Your Tech and Hand It Down!
Did you know that the average iPhone is estimated to have an average lifespan of three years – however, they’re often supported by Apple with security upgrades for as long as five to seven years?
A really great way to do your bit for the environment, particularly with older phones, is instead of throwing them in a drawer once you’re done with them, consider refreshing them with a new battery and passing them on to family or friends. By passing on your old technology, you can have a multitude of positive effects on the community:
– You’re reducing the amount of waste that ends up in landfills – especially if you can get your phone to last even another year or two.
– You can make a quick dollar if you choose to sell it on a local community group, such as Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist.
– You’re saving someone else money too – because then they don’t need to go out and buy a new phone, and can just use your old one instead!
With the way that many tech companies release updated versions of their devices on a frequent basis, it’s easy for us to become accustomed to the idea that technology is disposable. However, with the right care and willingness to repair, reuse, and share, a device can have a much longer life, while also providing someone you know with a completely usable phone that will last them a long time.
It can appear tricky at first, but doing your bit for sustainability can really help save the environment. Who knows, maybe that old laptop or phone you pass down to a family member will encourage them to get their geek on!
Anyway, that’s all for this week’s Sustainable Geeks. I do hope you enjoyed reading – perhaps you’d like to share this with a friend, and talk about sustainability some more?
Categories: Geeks and Nerds Stuff
