What To Ask So You Know You’re Buying Sustainable Technology
This is a Guest Post by Revolution
There’s no doubt that the world is getting greener and that sustainable technology is becoming more important in that world. One of the largest tech companies, Google, announced recently that it had officially achieved its 100 percent renewable energy target.
While it’s easy to think that the sustainability achievements of companies like Google have no relevance to your daily life, that’s not true. When you buy your next piece of technology, you have the opportunity to make green and eco-friendly decisions that will affect the planet.
Read on for the three questions you should ask before buying – as well as some great resources to make it even easier!.
Green Questions to Ask Before Buying Tech
Whether it’s a fitness tracker, a cell phone, a TV or something else, here are the top three green considerations when buying new sustainable technology:
- How long will it last?
- How easy is it to repair?
- How easy is it to resell or donate?
How Long Will Your Tech Device Last?
The average lifespan of electronic items varies widely – from more than a decade for household appliances such as washing machines, dryers and dishwashers, to more than seven years for a TV, to about four and a half years for a smartphone.
Frequency of use and how well an item is treated can expand those estimated lifespans. The other factor is whether you’ll use an electronic item until it dies, or whether you’ll replace it because you want an updated model.
According to the NPD Group, North Americans keep their smartphones for about two years before getting a new one. Obviously, that’s not the best for the environment.
How Easy Is It To Repair Your Tech Device?
iFixit is a wiki-based site that allows contributors to create and edit repair manuals for devices. They also list “ease of repair” scores for smartphones, giving you a good sense as to whether you are about to buy a device that is sustainable technology.
Other DIY sites offer solutions for common tech problems. For example, try putting an unresponsive hard drive in the freezer for a couple of hours to get it working again. The low temperature causes the moving parts to contract, which may restore functionality to the device.
How Easy Is It to Resell or Donate Your Tech Device?
A device whose life is extended through additional use epitomizes the idea of sustainable technology.
The good news is that many non-profits, senior organizations and recreation centres would be happy to reuse your old electronics!
eBay for Charity allows the sale of used electronics, and all or part of the proceeds can be donated to a charity of your choice.
Conclusion
Now you know which green questions to ask when shopping for a new tech device. Determining the lifespan of your electronic item, its repair-ability and how easy it will be to resell or donate it will go a long way towards making a purchase that is green. If we all start making better decisions with the tech that we buy, the sooner the world will benefit from our actions.
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Do you look at ease of repair, longevity and end-of-life when you buy new electronic devices? Do you think the resources in this article make it easier? Or is it too much hassle / going too far? Let me know in the comments below.
Warm regards,
P.S. Don’t forget to download your free green living handbook “Live Well, Live Green” here.
Related:
- Do your laundry the green and ecofriendly way – here’s how!
- Get rid of all the toxic products in your life (you’ll be shocked at where they hide!). It’s easy – see how here!
[…] And that’s what this interesting Guest Post is all about. Just 3 questions. Read it here. […]