U-M Planet Blue
 
Sustainable Computing

Buy Smart

Making sustainable choices when buying electronics is a great way to get started with sustainable computing practices. Here are a few tips for buying smart:

Look for Environmentally Friendly Electronics

When looking to purchase a new product, visit the following websites and see how energy efficient various models and companies truly are.

Don't Buy More Than You Need

When shopping for computer equipment, only buy what you need. For example, if you won't be playing high-definition games on your computer, don't include a high-end graphics card. You'll save money on both the purchase and the power used.

Buy Paper with Recycled Content

Look for at least 30% recycled content when you stock up on paper. Recycled paper not only reduces harvesting of trees, it also uses less energy and less water, causes less pollution and saves landfill space.

Buy Other Recycled Products

To close the loop, look for recycled materials in everything you buy. Increasingly more products are manufactured using recycled materials, which saves resources and keeps material out of landfills. The EPEAT rating system considers both recycling and use of recycled materials when recommending environmentally friendly electronics. Complete the cycle; buy recycled!