IT networks use a lot of energy. There’s no way around this, but there are lots of things you can do to reduce your carbon footprint – not to mention your energy bills!
Schedule a network shutdown
Did you know that you can schedule all of the machines on your network to shut down at the end of the day? That way, there’s no danger of employees leaving their workstations switched on overnight and using unnecessary energy. Give us a call and we can set this up for you if you don’t have it already. Oh, and don’t worry – the computer won’t shut down if you’re still using your machine, so there’s no danger of losing your work if you’re staying late.
Be aware of power-hungry devices
A lot of people think that computer screens use a lot of energy and obsessively turn them off when leaving their workstation. There’s nothing wrong with that, but in reality modern computer monitors don’t draw a lot of power. The computers themselves are what you have to worry about. Make sure to turn it off or make it ‘sleep’ when you’re not using it.
The most power-hungry devices are things like projectors. Not only do they use a lot of electricity, but the lamps only last so long and are expensive to replace. If you’re using projectors, make sure that you stress the importance of turning them off when you’ve finished with them. Nominating someone to whizz around and check this at the end of the day will at least ensure they’re not left on overnight.
Recycle your old machines
Is your laptop on its last legs? You might be tempted to throw it in the bin, but please don’t! Compared to a lot of appliances, computers have a relatively short lifespan and if you throw away your old phones, laptops, tablets and PCs whenever you get an upgrade, just think of how much landfill you’re using up. If you’ve ever been to the Eden Project, you may have seen their ‘Weee Man’ sculpture – a 3.3 tonne structure representing the amount of electrical waste produced from one UK household in a lifetime.
Computers can be recycled. If it’s still in working order, why not start by asking family and friends if they can make use of it? Or, if it’s completely caput, take it to your nearest computer recycling centre. Just remember to wipe all of your personal data for peace of mind. Better still, ask us for help!
Look after your computers
If you look after your machines, both at home and at work, you won’t need to replace them so often. Clean them out every once in a while to make sure they’re free from dust and make sure your internet security software is always up-to-date.
Efficient server room
Your server room guzzles electricity like nothing else. First you’ve got to power the server that runs the entire network, and then you’ve got to power an air conditioning system to keep it cool. Investing in efficient, up-to-date hardware will help to lower your emissions and save you money in the long run.
Avoid printing
Whenever you’re going to print something out, ask yourself – do I really need to do this? Using a portable workstation – ie working on laptops and tablets – means that you can carry your work around with you. These days, most people have smartphones which can read PDFs. We’re moving ever-closer to the world of paperless offices, so don’t let old habits get in the way of progress.
If you really have to print something out, at least print it double-sided. In fact, why not ask us to set up your printers to do this by default?
Working from home
These days many people view work as an activity – not a building. With superfast broadband becoming available across the whole country and teleconferencing software widely available online (Skype is free, remember) there’s probably no need to have everyone in the office all the time. With less employees on site, you don’t need such a large office space, which means you can save money on rent and bills. Plus, having fewer employees commuting to work every day will reduce the carbon footprint of their working life – and they get to work in their pyjamas if they want. It’s a win-win-win.