- Making equipment - materials used, miles travelled, energy used in importing/exporting.
- Power and energy when using equipment.
- Disposal of equipment - reducing landfill.
There are things we can do in schools on a simple day-to-day level, e.g.
- Turning off every PC could save CO2 emissions.
- Reusing computer equipment will save energy and money.
- Setting printer defaults to ‘economy' and using double-sided printing.
- Portable electronic devices should not be left on after charging.
- Thin clients and environmentally-friendly servers use less power and radiate less heat.
When procuring, schools should be asking questions about where goods were made.
Were ‘green' products and methods used in manufacture? How much energy and water is being used? Are recycled goods used for packaging? How is distribution energy and carbon-efficient? Local suppliers may seem more expensive at first but the buying power of many schools in one area can bring down prices - and save on travel and energy costs.
Education suppliers are producing ICT products for schools that are sustainable, energy-efficient and made of less harmful materials, so suitable for recycling. Schools need to be thinking at a strategic level about ‘green' procurement and deciding on their priorities - and also about the small things that can be done every day to solve the problem of global warming.
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