Using digital technology in a responsible way

With nearly 4% of global CO2 emissions, digital technology pollutes more than air transport.

• by the production and end-of-life management of all our electrical appliances and electronic devices,
• by the energy consumption when using the equipment,
• by the energy required for the operation of the Internet network.

Digital devices have environmental consequences throughout their life cycle (extraction of raw materials, industrial pollution from manufacturing, energy required during use, disposal at the end of their life). Programmed obsolescence, either physical (decreased reliability) or cultural (marketing and fashion pressure), increases the environmental footprint of our digital devices.

• Go low-tech (opposite of high-tech): buy according to my actual needs (for example, no smartphone with 4 cameras), say no to connected objects.
• Purchase responsibly: buy second-hand or reconditioned.
• Limit the devices’ energy consumption: do not leave them on permanently, set the power save mode, disconnect internet boxes and TV boxes when not in use.
• extend their lifespan: maintain, protect and repair them in the event of a breakdown.
• recycle my electronic and electrical waste, batteries and accumulators, at an approved collection point.

The use of the Internet network requires the storage of data in Data Centers. They operate continuously and are very energy-intensive, not only for the computer operation itself but also for the servers, data centres cooling.

• adopt responsible email management: reduce the number of recipients, avoid overly large attachments, clean my mailbox by deleting unnecessary emails and unsubscribing from newsletters that I do not read (with Cleanfox for example).
• limit web queries: type directly the website address, create shortcuts to my favorite websites instead of using search engines, limit the number of open and unused tabs.
• manage the production and storage of your data: local storage of non-shared data, share with USB flashdrives, and, only if necessary, use on-line service like WeTransfer which deletes files after a week.
• sort, organize and discard unnecessary data (files, photos, applications, etc.).
• adopt a responsible consumption of online video: reduce the resolution to reduce data flow, remove the automatic playback function, watch TV instead of streaming.
• use the WIFI connection instead of the more energy-intensive 4G.