Eco-minded computer users can find many ways to lessen their carbon footprint. while still using the technology they need and want. The first thing any conscientious techie should do is properly recycle any unwanted electronics. There are several ways to do this and it has become far less painful to accomplish this task than it once was. There are official drop off facilities in most towns and some private companies have kiosks in malls. It also pays to check with the maker of a device you are considering recycling. This is because many retailers offer cash back or credits for your recycled electronics.
Used Items
Beyond your own efforts to recycle your used electronics you can also look at purchasing used items. Buying used items helps the environment because as the demand for new items diminishes, the need to produce them also diminishes. Less production means less use of raw materials also less power or energy consumption, to produce goods is needed, and that is beneficial for the environment.
Eco-Friendly Electronics
Sometimes a used item is not appropriate, especially when it comes to electronics. Because used items are not usually current models many techies may not be interested in buying them. Purchasing recycled or eco-friendly items is another way you can reduce waste. Recycled items are made from reused or re-purposed parts. There are several ways an item can be considered eco-friendly. Two examples would be that the parts used are re-purposed or the process by which the item is produced can be manufactured in an eco-conscious way. Eco-conscious means that sustainable materials were used in the production and that minimal harm has been done to the environment, as a result of the production.
More and more we are seeing items that are eco-friendly. There are many USB drives on the market that fall into this category. Several form factors use sustainable materials such as bamboo. Also the internal materials can be eco-friendly, for example the solder points on the chip set can be made of lead-free solder, which is easier on the environment when it decomposes.
These are just a few ways a conscientious techie can make eco-smart purchases. More and more we are seeing manufactures respond to the demand of consumers to produce eco-friendly electronics.
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