Did you know that email activity can have a measurable carbon footprint? Even small actions, like a low-consumption light bulb burning for six minutes, contribute to energy use. SMAART, a company focused on refurbishing mobile phones, has created a practical guide to promote responsible technology use that helps individuals cut down their environmental impact.
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Through straightforward steps, readers can reduce their digital environmental footprint. Take note and act.
- Empty your inbox. Spam or junk mail can account for 85% to 95% of what many people receive. If unsolicited messages like newsletters or promotions pile up, the environmental impact grows. Keeping the inbox organized and deleting old items regularly helps lower energy use and data storage demands.
- Reduce the size of attachments. A single email with documents, images, or videos can emit up to 35 grams of CO2. To minimize this, compress files or use a file transfer service such as WeTransfer when appropriate.
- Limit time spent on social media. Social networks consume energy through the actions users take. For example, platforms collectively contribute substantial energy use through data processing and streaming. Reducing time spent on these services and being selective about what is viewed lowers the digital footprint.
- Delete old posts. Cleaning social networks frees up storage and reduces the digital footprint. In addition to removing media files, logging out of unused groups, deleting chat conversations, and clearing call history can help.
- Disable videos from autoplaying. Platforms that stream video can drive higher energy demand due to continuous playback. In settings, turn off autoplay and consume only content of genuine interest.
- Free up space on devices. The manufacturing of electronic equipment accounts for a large portion of the carbon footprint, so extending device life matters. A simple habit is to sort, classify, and delete unnecessary files, and to empty the recycle bin regularly.
- Uninstall unused apps. Idle apps consume memory and energy, slowing devices. Removing unused apps, turning off nonessential notifications, and preserving at least 1GB of free space helps the system run smoothly.
- Edit WhatsApp conversations. Daily message volume can be high and stored media takes up space. Deleting conversations and the files within them (photos, videos, audio) reduces storage needs.
- Delete voicemail messages. Voicemails generate digital files that occupy storage on networks. Deleting them with the mobile operator or through the device clears space and can improve efficiency.
- Give your smartphone a second life. When considering a replacement, remember many devices can be refurbished or repurposed. Options include donating, selling, or placing devices in designated recycling bins when appropriate.