Do you ever ask yourself, “What can I do to be more sustainable and make a difference in our world for the better?” One thing that experts consistently suggest is to start with something small. Computer maintenance and care is one way you can contribute to Sustainability at UT and extend the life of your hardware. This is an easy way to make a positive impact towards increasing sustainability and realizing the associated cost savings.
What are some of the ways you can take care of your device(s)? It is important to think about this in several phases:
- Pre-Purchase
- Ongoing use of the device
- Computer Maintenance
Each of these phases deals with different aspects of preparation, computer ownership and use.
Before purchasing a new computer, it is important to review your workspace for potential hazards.
- Prepare: Keep items with liquids, such as fresh flowers, pets’ water, and food bowls, away from your computer work area.
- Protect: Ensure that you have a compatible quality surge protector to prevent energy surge damage during storms or power fluctuation.
- Verify: Make sure that any docking station you order is not only compatible with your computer, but also the most efficient model for your specific computer.
How you use your computer can prevent unnecessary wear and tear.
- Easy does it: Be careful when moving your computer around or transporting it to and from work.
- Take Care: Avoid eating and drinking over your computer and its accessories to prevent damage from spills or food.
- Be Gentle: Make it a habit to type or click using gentle to moderate pressure to preserve keyboard and mouse function.
Computer maintenance is one of the most important things involved in extending the life of your computer.
- Maintain your battery: For laptops, use the original charger to keep your battery consistently between 20-80% power. Using the incorrect charger can damage your battery and significantly reduce its lifespan.
- Clean: Cleaning your computer monthly using the appropriate technology-safe cleaning products can make a big difference in preserving the functionality of your device. Check out the Apple and Dell recommendations for cleaning devices and schedule a recurring appointment on your calendar to remind yourself.
- Repair: If your computer experiences a hardware malfunction, consider getting a quote to repair it instead of replacing it.
Taking these small steps, over time, can keep your laptop or desktop working at their best. While it takes some effort in the short term, the real reward is extending the life of your device in the long term and reducing impact on the environment. What a difference small steps can make!
Jenn Quraishi