Simple ways to reduce your tech carbon footprint

Happy belated World Overshoot Day! Actually, scratch that, there’s nothing really to be happy about — humankind is consuming more resources than the Earth is making, and from Aug 22 onwards we’ve basically gone into overdraft! It’s kinda the equivalent of earning $ 50,000 per year but spending $ 77,000.

By far the largest driver of this is humanity’s carbon footprint. Here in Australia, the average household generates more than 18 tonnes of CO₂ every year — the largest chunk from transport with around 6 tonnes, while around 2.5–3.0 tonnes is created through our usage of electronics and other appliances. It’s important to note though, that sensible use of tech and telco can actually help to reduce your footprint — think of the business flights that no longer need to occur because of teleconferencing, or trips to the bank that are saved because of banking apps.

I know — it feels like a big challenge, but if we all pitched in we can start to make a dent. As part of our work in going carbon neutral last year, we’ve discovered some really quick, simple ideas that you can implement when it comes to your gadget and phone habits.

Consider the energy efficiency when you’re shopping for gadgets…

If you’re in the market for a new gadget it’s tempting to just think about all the exciting new features, like 4K resolution for your TVs or SSD drives for laptops — but next time also keep an eye out on the Energy Rating of the device. This star rating ranges from one to six stars, and the more stars means the more energy efficient. The likely energy consumption is also provided, so you can compare differences between brands and models. There’s even an Energy Rating Calculator app for both iOs or Google Play.

CO₂ savings per annum: Depends on the device and the usage, but going from a 3-star to a 6-star 60” TV could mean saving 353 kg of CO₂!

… But maybe hang on to them a bit longer

Look, we get it, there’s nothing more exciting than “new phone day” when you rip open the box to get stuck into your latest shiny gadget! But consider this: it took 55 kg of CO₂ to make your mobile phone, which forms the majority of its total carbon footprint through its lifespan. If you can squeeze a few more months (or even years) of use from your current device, that’ll probably be better for the environment than swapping for a more power-efficient one. Likewise, if you’re looking to buy and aren’t too fussy, there’s sense in purchasing a refurb or getting a hand-me-down from friends or family — that means one fewer phone that needs to be manufactured! Just remember to ask your mate to clear out all those images of dog unicorn onesies — no one needs to see that!

CO₂ savings per annum: Around 10–20 kg for each additional year you keep your phone

Give it away or get rid of it (responsibly)

OK, you’ve given in to temptation and splurged on the latest tablet! That’s cool, we’re not mad (really). Now that you have though, think about what you’re gonna do with your old device. Yes, I know you’ve made a start on the mobile phone museum in your bedside drawer, but maybe think about selling it, or giving it away to friends or family. You can also look to donate it — here are a couple of options. Finally, if none of these suit, you can look to recycle — don’t pop them in your green bin though, but head to MobileMuster or Recycling Near You, both of which take a variety of e-waste and have multiple drop-off points throughout Australia.

CO₂ savings per annum: This will reduce your own carbon footprint by 386 g CO₂ per mobile phone recycled, as well as the footprint of the person who inherits your device — it’s win-win!

Use responsible providers and services

Of course, you knew we were gonna say this, as Australia’s first carbon neutral telco! There are loads of interesting services out there that are looking to do their part for the environment, from alternative search engines that plant trees or invest in sustainable development goals, to productivity apps that donate to reforestation projects. Of course, it’s always tough to know whether services that promise to do their bit for the environment are actually good for their word — which is why seeking out carbon neutral providers is also another great thing you can do. A carbon neutral product basically means that the product’s carbon footprint has been wiped clean. In Australia, Climate Active, a Federal Government-backed program, is the most credible certification — and besides Belong, there are a number of other providers, including Telstra and Vinnies Victoria. You can also check out some carbon neutral banks and electricity retailers!

CO₂ savings per annum: All of the emissions related to your electricity and/or telco use could be neutralised if you choose the right provider(s).

Unplug your devices

You might think that leaving your chargers or appliances plugged in is harmless enough, but even when they’re not in use, they can still chew through a lot of energy to power displays or remote controls. This is called ‘vampire power’ — spooky! — and can account for up to ten per cent of your electricity use, adding to your carbon footprint and also your power bill.

The very least you should do is turn on smart power mode, which most modern devices should be armed with. For older gadgets that lack this feature, you can use smart plugs and smart power devices that turn off devices remotely and can be programmed to shut off at night. Even better than these options though — turn off your devices completely when you’re done! An easy way is to use a power board to plug your gadgets in so that you only have the one switch to turn off before you turn in. Just make sure you’re being sensible with the load you’re putting on the board though, otherwise you might get a little shock!

CO₂ savings per annum: Depends on your type of household, but could be up to 880 kg if you can eliminate all the vampires! This assumes a Victorian couple, living in a house with all-electric heating, cooling, cooking and hot water. Their total annual power usage would be 8,269.5 kWh, which translates to around 8.85 tonnes of CO₂ just from their electricity usage.

Manage your battery

And finally, with advances in battery tech it can be tempting to have multiple apps blazing along at peak performance on your mobile devices, but these can drain the power quickly and lower the lifespan of the battery. A few ways you can stretch out the time between charges — get to know your device and how to turn on “economy mode”, close the apps you’re not using, get on to Wi-Fi rather than the mobile network where you can, and turn off Bluetooth or GPS when you don’t require it. Also, both iOS and Android now have “dark mode” settings, which can extend battery life by up to 44%, depending on your usage habits.

CO₂ savings per annum: Probably a few kgs if you can manage it well — every little bit helps!

So there you go — a few simple ways we can all adopt to reduce our tech carbon footprint, and do our part to push out World Overshoot Day. In the meantime, if you’d like to estimate CO₂ emissions due to your mobile data usage, download the handy Carbon Thumbprint app for iOS or Android.

These handy tools and services are not endorsed or provided by Belong. Our staff have handpicked these as their favourites and are only suggested ideas. So please use them at your own risk — we encourage you to take sensible precautions if you do.

Belong is Australia’s first carbon neutral mobile and internet provider. Explore our plans.

Find out your estimated CO2 impact from your mobile data usage by downloading the Carbon Thumbprint app.