Earth Day and IT: Reducing Your Digital Carbon Footprint

If the internet were a country, it would be among the world’s top energy consumers. A 2024 study published in Nature Communications found that data centers and data transmission networks account for between 1% and 1.3% of global electricity consumption. That’s a staggering amount of energy for infrastructure that most people never even see.

Earth Day serves as a reminder that sustainability is not just about cutting plastic waste or planting trees. It is about rethinking the way we use technology.

Every email sent, file stored, and server running contributes to a digital carbon footprint. While these actions may seem small on their own, collectively, they have a major environmental impact.

The good news is that you do not need to overhaul to make a difference. Small changes can significantly reduce digital waste and energy consumption. Here’s how to take action and make IT work for both you and the planet.

Optimizing IT for Energy Efficiency

Technology is the engine that keeps us running, but that engine burns more fuel than you might think. A few smart tweaks can help you cut down on wasted energy, lower costs, and even give your tech setup a sustainability upgrade.

Put Devices on a Power Diet

Leaving computers running full tilt 24/7 is like keeping a car idling in the driveway all night. It burns through resources for no good reason.

Adjusting power settings is an easy win. Enable sleep mode and set power settings to turn off the display or send the computer to sleep after a period of inactivity. This helps conserve energy when devices aren’t being used.

Upgrade to Energy-Smart Hardware

Old tech is a power hog. If you are still rocking decade-old desktops, it might be time for an upgrade.

ENERGY STAR-certified devices are built to sip electricity instead of guzzling it, cutting down on energy waste without sacrificing performance. Swapping out traditional hard drives for solid-state drives (SSDs) can also trim power use while boosting speed. It’s a win-win.

Stop Running Equipment on Autopilot

Most of us don’t need every piece of equipment powered on at all hours. A little scheduling goes a long way.

Printers, for example, are notorious energy hogs. Set your printer to power down when not in use and only turn it on during scheduled print jobs. The same goes for computers and other devices—make sure they go into sleep mode after a period of inactivity.

Clean Up Digital Clutter

Just because storage is virtually unlimited doesn’t mean it should be treated that way. Unused files, duplicate backups, and outdated software all contribute to unnecessary data bloat, which increases storage demand—and the energy needed to maintain it.

You can reduce your digital footprint by:

• Regularly deleting unnecessary files and old backups.
• Compressing large files to take up less storage space.
• Optimizing databases and archiving inactive data.

Reducing E-Waste Responsibly

E-waste (old computers and gadgets that get tossed instead of reused) is piling up worldwide, and much of it contains hazardous materials. Instead of sending outdated devices to the landfill, we can make smarter, greener choices.

Give Old Devices a Second Life

Not every piece of old tech is junk. Many organizations refurbish used laptops, desktops, and tablets, giving them to schools, nonprofits, and community programs that need affordable technology.

You can donate to programs like Computers with Causes, ensuring their retired devices stay in use instead of gathering dust. Or worse, ending up in a landfill.

Recycle the Right Way

When a device is truly past its prime, tossing it in the trash isn’t an option. Many electronics contain toxic materials like lead and mercury, which can leach into soil and water.

Certified e-waste recycling programs, such as those run by e-Stewards or R2-certified recyclers, ensure old devices are disposed of properly. Some tech manufacturers, like Apple, also offer take-back programs to recycle hardware responsibly.

Buy from Businesses That Care

Sustainability starts at the source. One of the best ways to reduce our environmental footprint is by choosing to buy from companies that prioritize green manufacturing. Supporting brands that take sustainability seriously helps drive the entire industry toward more responsible tech production.

A Smarter Future Starts with Us

Every piece of technology leaves a mark, but we get to decide what kind of mark that will be. Earth Day is a reminder that change starts with action. So, if you are looking for ways to make a positive impact, now is the time to start thinking about how technology can contribute in big ways.