Earth Day Every Day: The Green Media Professional’s Handbook

April 22, 2024

At Toolfarm, we believe that the planet should be a top proprity every single day. With the alarming rise of environmental challenges like extreme weather events, wildfires, and pollution, it’s evident that our dear Earth needs our collective efforts now more than ever.

As media professionals, we have a unique opportunity to lead by example and reduce our carbon footprint. While many of you are already taking steps toward sustainability, this article serves as a friendly reminder to double down on our eco-friendly practices. Some suggestions may be new, while others might be familiar habits – but every small action counts in the fight against climate change.

By choosing Toolfarm, you’re already making a positive impact because our products are downloadable. Not only are you saving money, but you’re also saving energy by eliminating the need for physical shipping and transportation. Additionally, our commitment to sustainability extends beyond our business model – my home office is powered by 48 solar panels, generating clean, renewable energy for us and my neighbors.

This article is divided into two main categories: using less energy and conserving resources. While some of these ideas might seem obvious, they bear repeating. Together, let’s strive to be the greenest media professionals we can be, one eco-friendly choice at a time.

Easy Ways to Save Energy

Today’s computers and monitors are much more energy-efficient than those giant ones from the 90s. Case in point…

That said, there are still several easy things that you can do to save energy that won’t impact your work much.

Energy Usage vs. Resources

It’s important to differentiate where energy use comes into play. To put it simply:

Energy Usage: Computers use the most energy during use, so be mindful not to leave them on when they don’t need to be on. A computer turned off uses at least 65% less energy than a computer left on or idle on a screen saver. [Source: Sustainability at Georgetown University)
Resouces: Phones and tablets don’t use much power at all daily, however, the manufacturing of the phones takes a lot of resources and energy. The best thing you can do is NOT get a new phone each year but use the one you have for 4-5 years.

Turn your computer off and your lights when not in use

The chart below shows the energy usage and comes from StandbyPower.
Chart from https://standby.lbl.gov/data/summary-chart/

Anyone Flying GIF - Find & Share on GIPHY — via GIPHY

Turn off screen savers and use low-power mode

The days of flying toasters are long gone. Instead, use low-power mode when possible.

Unplug wall warts and gear that are not in use.

If you have something plugged in that is not being used, it’s a waste. For example, standby power accounts for 10% of a home’s electricity use, says Berkley Lab. In addition, Energy Star has a report on this topic and it’s eye-opening. Read more.

I use a power switch on my desk that turns off my monitor, keyboard, mouse, and speakers, leaving the hard drive on if I need to leave it on for rendering or other tasks.

Did you know… AI Consumes A LOT of Energy and WATER

AI chatbots like ChatGPT use more energy and water than a normal search. Water is needed for cooling the data centers which generate an immense amount of heat.

How much water? “According to a preprint from the University of California, Riverside, a conversation with ChatGPT consumes around 50 cl of water, the equivalent of a small plastic bottle.” [Source: AI and the environment: Chatbot ChatGPT consumes more energy than a traditional Internet search, 1/11/2023.]

AI IS helping to solve some environmental issues and I expect that the excessive power consumption and water consumption will be solved, but for the time being, don’t waste chatbot conversations asking it to answer you in Klingon.

Buying a new computer?

Look for the Energy Star logo. Need information on Energy Star-rated computers?

Use LED lights in your workspace.

They use 85% less energy, according to the NY Times. LEDs also last longer and they don’t produce heat. Read more about the benefits of LED lighting. Better yet, use natural light from a window.

According to Sustainability at Georgetown University, compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) use 75% less energy than incandescent. If you haven’t swapped out those old bulbs yet, it’s time. And, CFLs can last up to 10 times longer.

Promote remote work

Advocate for flexible work policies that allow employees to work from home, reducing commuting emissions and energy consumption in the office.

If this is not an option, use public transportation, carpool, bike, or walk to work whenever possible.

Meet virtually and turn off your camera.

Of course, it will save fuel, but did you know that turning off your video on a Zoom call can save 96% on your energy footprint? According to a study from Perdue University, “Just one hour of videoconferencing or streaming, for example, emits 150-1,000 grams of carbon dioxide (a gallon of gasoline burned from a car emits about 8,887 grams), requires 2-12 liters of water and demands a land area adding up to about the size of an iPad Mini.” Read more at Science Daily.

And let’s be honest, most of us don’t want to have our cameras on so this is a GREAT reason to keep them off.

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Turn down the heat or A/C

Wear a sweater in the winter and lighter clothes in summer months to be comfortable. Turn down that A/C!

In 2011, Japan promoted the “Cool Biz” campaign to promote energy savings during the winter month, encouraging office workers to skip the suits and wear lighter clothes like polo shirts and khakis to the office. I was happy to read that this is still happening in Japan. Read more

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Consider Alternative Energy

Right now the U.S. Government has a 30% tax credit for installing solar or other alternative energies, as well as batteries. I live in Michigan and we have 48 solar panels on our house with a 70% offset. Our electric bills are minuscule compared to what they used to be. We basically have an electric bill for 2 months a year. Consider how that is affecting fossil fuel consumption in our area. In the summer on a sunny day, we are generating 6x as much energy as we use. This excess power is feeding the grid in our neighborhood, powering the houses of our neighbors at peak energy use times. It’s a win-win.

Or, Buy clean energy from your power company.

And, yes, you can get your power from wind and solar sources without installing panels yourself. Learn more at Energy.gov or the EPA. You can also do an energy audit of your office or home to see where you can save energy.

Powering Renewable Energy GIF by General Electric - Find & Share on GIPHY

Offset your Carbon Emissions

First, it’s helpful to know your carbon footprint.

Consider investing in carbon offsetting programs or projects that promote renewable energy or reforestation efforts. Read more: How to choose carbon offsets that actually cut emissions

Save Resources, Save Money: Donate, Fix, Recycle, or Upcycle

Fixing your old gear

Fixing is always cheaper than buying something new. Most of us are heavy computer users and we do get our machines serviced when needed. However, I don’t need to tell you the sad reality that computers and phones become obsolete pretty quickly. It’s often not worth fixing or updating them. In that case, read on.

Check out the All Connect Guide on Where to Donate and Recycle Used Electronics.

Where to Donate Old Gear

Today in my town, an electronics recycling company has a free Earth Day celebration, where you can bring your items for recycling for free. I am bringing an old monitor to them.

Some charities will take old working gear and refurbish it. I have a few suggestions below.
My local women’s shelter takes old working cell phones and gives them to women who are in bad situations. Of course, wipe your phone first!
Try your local Buy Nothing Project. We gave my daughter’s Chromebook to a college student, and she was extremely grateful. Again, just wipe your personal data first. The Buy Nothing Project is a great way to give away pretty much anything you don’t want: furniture, clothing, sports equipment. Just yesterday I scored a donut maker and today I have someone picking up a button maker that we don’t use!
The Freecycle Network is another national group where you can give your old items away to those who want or need them.
Goodwill also accepts computer donations, working with GoodTech and Dell ReConnect.
The Balance Small Business has a great list of places to donate old equipment.
In addition, buy second-hand when you can. If you don’t need the latest and greatest gear, you can score some gently used equipment online if you do your research.

Recycle… and Upscycle!

Recycle your old gear

If your computer is just too far gone for anyone to use, many computer and phone shops will let you drop off old electronics for recycling. Earth911 is a database for finding places to recycle your old equipment.

Buy recycled office supplies and cleaning products.

Opt for recycled or sustainable materials, such as recycled paper, refillable ink cartridges, and biodegradable cleaning products. Did you know that you can buy sticky notes and pencils that use recycled materials?

Upcycle!

I’ve made keychains from old RAM chips. These make nice gifts for the geekier friends in your life.

If you’re not an artist, you might get lucky and find an artist who reuses computer gear in their art projects.

Check out these art projects made with recycled computer equipment. I love this winged insect sculpture.

Recycle office paper, junk mail, etc.

Did you know that it takes 24 trees to make one ton of office paper?

According to data from the Global Forest Resource Assessment roughly 80,000 to 160,000 trees are cut down each day around the world with a significant percentage being used in the paper industry.

You can also buy paper made from recycled paper. Instead of paper towels, use reusable towels for the bathrooms. If you’re working remotely from home, you’re probably already doing this.

Even better, go paperless.

Banks, utilities, and more have paperless options now. Manuals are delivered as PDFs or online available. Keep them digital (and searchable) is also helpful for controlling desk clutter.

And, you can stop junk mail too! Stop unsolicited creditcard offers, catalogs, magazines and more. How To Stop Junk Mail

Other Ways to Improve your Environment

Educate and engage

Organize workshops or seminars to educate colleagues on sustainable practices and encourage them to adopt eco-friendly habits in their daily work routines.

Collaborate with green organizations

Partner with environmental organizations or initiatives to learn from their expertise and amplify their message through media channels. For example, yesterday I was at an event where we connected a friend who works for the local pro baseball team with a foam recycling company. He was previously throwing dumpsters full of foam in the trash. Now it’s being reused.

Breathe easier by putting a plant (or five!) in your office.

Besides the fact that they look nice, there are several benefits of having greenery around your office. Plants can remove harmful pollutants from the air. They also improve productivity and your state of mind. Of course, if you work in a dark edit bay with no windows, that may not be the best place to keep your plant alive. Learn more about why you need plants in your workspace.

Here is a list of indoor plants that are easy to take care of. Hot tip! Don’t pour your leftover coffee into the planter.

Try a Plant-Based lunch a couple of times per week.

Sure, you like to eat meat, and no one is asking you to give it up, but you can cut back. For example, eat one or two meatless meals per week. Every little counts.

The graphic below comes from an article at Vox: Yes, plant-based meat is better for the planet by By Matthew Hayek and Jan Dutkiewicz.

To A Greener Future

At the end of the day, being a green media professional is about making conscious choices that prioritize sustainability. It’s a daily duty of adopting eco-friendly practices, both big and small. From minimizing energy consumption to reducing waste and embracing renewable resources, every step we take matters.

As influencers and storytellers, we have the power to inspire positive change through our work and our actions. Let’s lead by example and encourage our colleagues, clients, and audiences to join us in protecting our planet. Remember, a greener future starts with each one of us, and every effort counts.

So, let’s continue to explore innovative ways to reduce our environmental impact, celebrate our progress, and collectively work towards a more sustainable media industry – one that not only entertains and informs but also safeguards the well-being of our shared home, Earth.

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Posted by Michele