Simple measures to help save electricity, money and the planet's health

Rio de janeiro - Global warming, climate change, excessive garbage in cities, the devastation of forests ... What does all this have to do with each one of us who are quiet watching TV, talking on the phone or accessing the internet? However, a lot. Environmental concern is already all homework and simple changes can generate big savings - money and especially the health of the planet. To try to be more, well, environmentally friendly when dealing with PCs, notebooks stabilizers, monitors, etc., we try and separate some expert tips.

First, we must bear in mind that the power consumption is only one of many environmental concerns. According Daurio Speranzini, vice president of Philips' Sustainability for Latin America, consumers need to be aware of all the other factors involved in the manufacture of a product, such as the use of toxic substances, disposal and recycling, weight, packaging and life helpful. "Consumers should check whether the company's suppliers are certified, if they do not use child labor, including its social projects, or how it works with individual responsibility, economic, social and environmental. Environmental awareness is evolving at home and in business, "said Daurio.

For Vilmar Berna, winner of the Global 500 Award for the Environment of the United Nations (UN) and editor of "Environment", we must begin to act soon, even through small actions, like turning off the lights when not are using, remove the device from stand by and do not turn off the TV using the remote control. "Environmental awareness is evolving at home and in business. Whenever a misfortune happens environmental consciousness progresses. But it is sad to go through pain and suffering, not by love for the planet, "said Vilmar.

Laptops use less energy than desktops

Understood the concept, it is time to leave for practice. Sucupira said Luis, a student of the impact of technology on the environment that notebooks consume less power than desktops, and therefore consider the exchange of equipment can be a good start. Moreover, it is good to keep an eye on stabilizer: when not being used, should be turned off and even unplugged from the outlet.

The saving tips also apply to cell phone chargers, and MP3 players. In the case of cellphones, many people have the habit of leaving appliances charging all night, but no need. In the instruction manual for tips on how long each player takes to be replenished. The reduction in the account comes to be significant when combined with other procedures. Depending on what you use at home, can you save the value of a laptop per year. As for desktops, use machines and chips that prioritize low power consumption and recycling. Furthermore, plasma TVs consume the same amount of energy from tube TVs. But the LCD consumes less than the others.

Junk mail is a serious problem

Disposal of electronics is another concern: You should be careful what you throw away. Today, there are 50 million tons of electronic waste on the planet, consisting of PCs, phones, electronics, etc.. The number represents 5% of all trash generated by humanity.

Just to give you an idea of the problem: a baby born today in England will have generated, when you reach the age of 77, eight tons of electronic waste, five tons more than what today is generated by the British in the same social class. The worst is that all the garbage produced by citizens of so-called First World countries ends up in landfills and the Third World as scrap or 'item of digital inclusion programs. "

"In some places it is recycled, turned into other computer. But elsewhere it will contaminate soil, food and water. Where there is no control it is burned and the smoke poured into the atmosphere, contributing to worsen the greenhouse effect. He comments also on the products that are forgotten in technical assistance and workshops. These companies are in possession of the product to sell and retire. Nothing is known about what they do with junk. Elsewhere in the garbage dumps or delivery to recyclers. Much of the material goes to waste and heavy metals end up polluting the existing water sources, "said Luis.

Fluorescent lamps save energy and money

Another valuable tip with respect to the lamps. As much as we are known the benefits of fluorescent lamp - saving energy and money - there are still many people who prefer using traditional bulbs. The good news is that today, bulbs represent only 20% of sales. "The fluorescent, to be economical, must have the certificate of Inmetro, otherwise you can pay for certified products that consume the same thing in ordinary light bulb," said Luis.

Another villain that has nothing to do with the digital world, but come on - it's the hot shower, "Who is not using electric shower must disconnect it from the outlet," says Luis. As for the phones, batteries, chargers and other items, they should be returned to manufacturers, never stored or dumped in nature. "The environment, the batteries, and batteries, pollute soil and water with heavy metals. In recycling, the acid is transformed into a harmless liquid, and lead, silver and mercury, "said Luis.

Manufacturers have projects to collect batteries

Business phones that have been engaged in seeking solutions to the disposal of equipment reached the milestone of 500,000 recycled phones in Latin America. The number is supplemented by 40 tons of batteries and accessories 150 000. Up to 85% of a cell phone is recyclable. Another concern is the size and thickness of packaging the devices. In some models, the reduction reaches 60%.

Chargers also accompany the green wave. New phone models are being produced together with chargers with integrated alarms, which warn when the device battery is charged. Thus, unnecessary energy is no longer consumed. According to Nokia , with only the act of disconnecting the equipment to hear the alarm, the user would be contributing to a saving of enough energy to supply one hundred thousand houses of medium size.

Source: O Globo - 04/06/2009