Going Green with Sustainable Technology

It’s now abundantly clear that human activity is solely to blame for the climate crisis, rising global temperatures, loss of biodiversity, and wanton pollution. Just about everything we do, from generating power and producing food to manufacturing goods, adversely affects the planet. Human activity generates harmful emissions and waste, all the while draining the planet of its valuable natural resources.

We’re already facing the consequences of our careless actions. Extreme weather, dwindling food supply, and diseases are just the start. At the current rate, as many as six billion people might find themselves confined in parts of the planet rendered unlivable by the end of this century.

Something needs to be done—and fast. So far, 40 countries have already declared a climate emergency, many of which are now rolling out long-term sustainability initiatives. And all 191 UN Member States have agreed to try to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. While all this is a good start, we must act now, and everyone must chip in.

One way individuals and organizations can drive sustainability is through tech innovations.

The Move Toward Sustainable Technology

Solar panels, windmills, recycling plants, electric cars—these are probably the first things that come to mind when you hear the words “sustainable technology.” These are essential technologies that are at the forefront of reducing our impact on the planet. While these technologies grab headlines, where can a small business look to make a move toward sustainability?

Let’s focus on digital technology, one of the most underrated sources of emissions and waste. Due to its ubiquitous and intangible nature, digital tech’s impact on the environment often goes unnoticed. Developing and utilizing digital products taxes the planet heavily. And disposing of those products creates harmful e-waste.

In a 2019 study, The Shift Project reported that digital technology was responsible for about 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions. That might not sound like much, but by the most recent figures, that’s equivalent to about 2.15 billion metric tons of CO₂ per year. The study further points out that the energy consumption of digital technologies grows by 9% annually.

Clearly, the way we produce and consume digital technology is unsustainable. And as individuals and businesses become more reliant on tech, the worse it gets. This is where the idea of sustainable digital technology or green IT comes in.

The Principles of Sustainable Technology

Sustainable technology generally refers to tech that minimizes IT’s impact on the environment. For businesses, it’s about building tech infrastructures that help the organization reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, energy consumption, and e-waste. Those are the key principles of green IT.

But what exactly can you do to be more sustainability-conscious with technology?

Well, here are steps you can take right now to reduce your IT’s energy consumption, waste, and emissions:

• Extend the life of your IT equipment via proactive maintenance.
• Migrate your servers, data, and apps to the cloud for more efficient computing.
• Run your IT systems on renewable solar or wind energy (by sourcing power from a green energy retailer or hosting your systems in a data centre powered by renewable energy).
• Trim and optimize your digital footprint by removing performance bottlenecks and redundant assets.
• Dispose of old, obsolete, and broken equipment via sustainable means such as recycling, trading in with the manufacturer, or reselling to refurbishing companies.

Sustainable IT with Highway 99

Highway 99 Technology Solutions Inc. is a fully managed IT services provider with a strong reputation for excellent customer service, transparency, and professionalism. If you’re thinking about going green with tech (and you should), we’ve got your back.

As your green technology partner, we’ll work to boost your IT’s efficiency, performance, and longevity while minimizing its footprint and energy consumption.

Contact us to learn more.

Featured image credit: Image by freepik