Les consommateurs peuvent suivre plusieurs conseils pour rendre leur ordinateur plus écologique et économiser de l’argent par la même occasion.
1) Use the most suitable computer
Before choosing one of the different models available on the market, it helps to know what they are for and what their features are. You can then choose the one that best suits your needs:
- how long and where you will use it,
- the type of applications you will need to run,
Otherwise, it may end up left unused because it does not fit your needs, or on the contrary, it may use far more resources than necessary. For occasional home or leisure use, a tablet will be enough. For continuous professional use, a desktop computer is usually the best option.
Besides how you use it, another factor to consider is energy consumption. Laptops use less power than desktop computers, and tablets use less power than laptops.
2. Check eco labels and environmental reports
Computer labels provide useful information to help you choose the most environmentally friendly model: the materials used (some are more polluting than others), whether future recycling has been taken into account, the presence of an eco label such as EPEAT (with three categories: gold, silver and bronze) or Energy Star, whether the manufacturer has an environmental policy in place, and so on.
Environmental reports can also be useful. The environmental organisation Greenpeace has for several years been publishing various reports assessing the environmental performance of major computer and mobile phone manufacturers, such as the Guide to Greener Electronics or the Green Electronics Survey.
3. Choose the most efficient models
The most energy‑efficient models can deliver significant savings on your electricity use. As well as being good for your wallet, it is also good for the environment. Manufacturers tend to make their products more and more efficient in terms of resource consumption. This is the case with the Intel Core 2 Duo microprocessor, which is up to 40% faster and more than 40% more efficient than its predecessor. Graphics cards use a lot of power; if you do not plan to run demanding 3D games, it is better not to overdo it. LED monitors are the most efficient and are the best choice when you need large screens.
4. Adopt energy‑saving habits
If the computer will not be used for several hours, it is better to enable hibernation mode, which uses less power, or to switch off the screen. Different operating systems have options to enable hibernation or automatic shutdown after a set period of time. Peripherals (printers, scanners, etc.) should also be turned off when not in use. Steps such as reducing screen brightness, disconnecting wireless devices (Wi‑Fi, Bluetooth) when they are not needed, defragmenting the hard drive so it runs better, using lightweight software, ensuring the system is free from spyware, maintaining the battery, using multifunction devices (printer, copier and scanner) and so on all help reduce consumption. In addition, various software tools can help cut electricity use and therefore be more environmentally friendly.
5. Reuse when possible
Extending the life of your computer saves money and reduces waste and the use of natural resources. Upgrading certain components, such as the RAM, or adding an extra hard drive can extend the useful life of the computer. Other options include giving it to a friend or relative who does not need a very powerful machine, or donating it to an NGO involved in digital inclusion projects. Some schemes offer to collect various computer components for reuse and pay you in return.
6. Recycle when they no longer work
If the computer no longer works, the next eco‑friendly step is to recycle it. You have two options. If you do not intend to buy a new device, you can take it to your nearest recycling centre. Various foundations and schemes list collection points on maps on their websites. On the other hand, if you do buy a new device, the retailer is usually required to take back the old one free of charge.
7. Buy “green” computers
Some computers are specifically designed with the environment in mind and, although there are still relatively few of them, they are a response to consumers’ growing environmental awareness. There is also an increasing number of “green” peripherals, such as solar chargers, components made from biodegradable materials, and so on.
