Some form of technology is lurking just about everywhere we turn. While it crowds our homes, it helps our businesses and has completely changed the world. Most people think that how far we’ve come with technology is a great thing; we are now more capable of things that were un-thought of even 50 years ago. As our technological knowledge increases, the need for environmental action skyrockets. The truth is, we are at a point where we need to do something, why not take a small step when it comes to the electronics that are in our homes?

Keeping the focus on those that are used in the home office, there are so many small, cheap actions that can reduce the amount of energy used.

Maybe the goal is to simply reduce the electricity of the utilities that are already in your office. With a power bar, just the flick of a switch removes all utilities from consuming electricity. A common mistake, also a reason why people do not use this method, is believing that a computer does not use electricity when it is turned off. This is completely untrue as it uses at least 2.3W, according to BCHydro. A power bar can be purchased for under $10.00 and is a very cheap way to save electricity (and money) without burning a hole in your pocket. 

Or maybe you’ve decided to upgrade your 2002 desktop to the latest and greatest 2009 version. It seems like a great idea; the latest versions are more environmentally friendly. But depending on your choices, this transformation could be costing the environment.

If you’ve decided that you absolutely need a new computer, ensure that you take advantage of power saving features. These can save up to 50% in desktop PCs. Not only that, computers equipped with power saving features do not generate as much heat and are quieter, making it more comfortable for the consumer.

Or instead of buying a desktop, why don’t you buy a laptop? It’s a little more expensive, but it saves up to 90% more than a regular desktop!

Where is your new computer coming from? Try to avoid computers that were not “made in Canada”. This reduces the amount of shipping required to get the computer from it’s manufacturer to you.

But before you even get that far, there’s one thing that you need to ask yourself: do you even need a new computer?

You think so, there is an alternative to buying a completely new computer and still attaining a faster computer. Purchase some of the major components of a new computer and replace the old with the new. Do you need more space? Buy a larger internal hard drive, or add to it with an external hard drive. Want a faster computer? Buy more memory that is compatible with your computer.

What ever you chose to do; whether it’s replacing your entire computer, or just some parts, there’s one thing you need to think about: where are these pieces going to go?

More often than not, these pieces end up collecting dust in the basement or sent to the landfill. What about donating the pieces you no longer need or want? Surely, someone else will find a use for your “garbage”. Consider donating it to a second hand store, or putting it at the end of your driveway with a sign that says, “take me!”. 

When you’re happy with your new computer, it may be time to consider the other components that you’d like to buy. But do you really need them?

Let’s be honest, those new “toys” are so much more attractive. But do you really need that new printer you’ve been checking out? Will your old printer do the job?

If it’s just a once or twice job, can you take it to a professional printer?

Printers are confusing, especially when you’re standing in the middle of about 100 different printers and you have no idea which one you want or need. It never hurts to ask which one is the best for energy consumption. Of if you’re a do-it-yourselfer keep in mind that laser printers use a lot more energy, while ink-jet printers are using less and less, especially with recent advances in inkjet technology.

If you’re looking to purchase a printer, fax, scanner and photocopier, consider purchasing one piece of equipment that has it all. This reduces your office from having four peripherals to having one.

Whatever you plan to purchase, think into the future. How long is it predicted to last? Where will it go when it is done with? Can you avoid sending it to the landfill? If it breaks down early, are you going to spend the money and fix it?

Unfortunately, each purchase you make will affect the environment in one way or another. You can easily reduce the carbon emissions by taking note of where it came from, where it will go, and whether it’s an energy saving model. We all need to step up; reduce emissions and protect our environment. Take a baby step now, with your electronics and keep moving forward for a better planet.