Last modified on November 19th, 2020 at 7:27 am

Going Green: How to Reduce Digital Pollution

We live in a time when our laptops, phones, TVs, and other digital devices represent an essential part of everyone’s life. We may not want to be as “addicted,” so to speak, but we have to admit that it makes our lives easier. You can send a mail with the click of a button and receive it in seconds rather than going to the post and waiting for days. You can see your loved ones from across the continent at all times through video calls. You can keep connected or watch your favorite movie whenever you want rather than waiting for it to roll again on the big screen.

That being said, we can’t deny that the constant use of technology can lead to quite a lot of digital pollution. There are a couple of ways to reduce that pollution – and before you begin protesting, they are easier to follow than it seems. Here’s what you can do:

1. Keep Your Digital Devices for a Longer Time

Do you need to buy that new laptop? Is it essential to buy that fancy new phone? Your old ones are still working, so do you really need to invest in other products? Plus, it may be a smaller, less fancy brand – but the more laptops are bought, the more will be produced.

The opposite applies as well – for each laptop in minus that is sold, fewer will be made to replace them. This will reduce your CO2 footprint on the environment – and all you will have to do is maintain your current digital equipment. 

One of the best things to do in this scenario is to invest in a good laptop. This means high-quality materials, good battery structure, and so on. Instead of going for the cheap and clumsy model that you’ll replace in a year or two, go for the one that will last more than five years.

2. Clean Your Mailbox

Clutter, in general, leads to pollution – and your digital devices are not spared from this. So, when you open your mailbox in the morning, and you see that you have 75 new emails, you can safely assume that 75 people used different resources and energy to send you that email somewhere in the world.

This does not necessarily mean that you have to erase all your emails, but clean through your recipients as well. When you sign up to receive small business digital marketing, only go for the relevant ones. 

Remember that at the end of every marketing email you can find the extremely convenient unsubscribe button. Use it wisely and help prevent digital pollution!

3. Use an Eco-Friendly Search Engine

Yes, not every search engine is the same. The more you search for data, the more digital data you consume. This is not something that we can control, particularly when we need the information. It’s faster to search for things on the Internet than driving to the library (which will also pollute the air as you transport yourself). 

This is why you should look for an eco-friendly search engine. For instance, for every 45 requests, Ecosia promises to plant a tree. Since one round of research is the equivalent of 7 g of CO2, you are practically giving the planet a boost by changing your search engine.

4. Limit Your Video Streaming Usage

Video streaming is, without any doubt, one of the main reasons people use the Internet. When you don’t know what to do, you simply open YouTube and start streaming your favorite creator. Obviously, this video streaming consumes energy – and it consumes a lot!

Moreover, the recently established video game streaming services are using much more energy than the basic video streaming platforms like Netflix. As such, for less digital pollution, it’s recommended to limit the time we spend streaming videos or video games. Instead, have a walk in the park, play some tennis, or read a book. After all, they’re forms of entertainment as well!

Final Thoughts

With a clean environment, we can enjoy our planet to the fullest. This is why you need to be conscious of your actions so that you reduce your CO2 footprint.

When using the Internet, you don’t necessarily think about how many devices use energy in order to feed you the data that you want to see. Such data usage could be seen as leaving your water tap open while brushing your teeth or taking way too long in the shower. 

Our planet has suffered enough! It’s now time to save more than our electricity and limit the power other entities use to satisfy our digital needs!