20 new financial year technology resolutions

• 27 June 2008
• Page 1 of 3 : single page

Better use of technology

1. I will recycle and refurbish my computers

By buying brands that have a strong recycling policy for their own products, you can avoid contributing to the estimated 1.6 million discarded computers that are dumped in landfills every year. This number is set to soar in the near future as the price of laptops continues to drop. Bear in mind that laptops use only a quarter of the power of an average desktop computer. If you really need a desktop unit, opt for energy-efficient Core 2 Duo processors, which often feature intelligent cooling systems. If you’re really serious, get involved with an organisation that plants trees to offset carbon emissions. One of the most obvious, but often overlooked, power-saving solutions is to turn your computer off before you go home at night, or when it’s not in use.

2. I will reduce my power consumption

The monitor, graphics card and processor are the parts of the computer that suck up the most power, so don’t buy a machine that has higher specs than you actually need. Large screens require a lot more power than small ones, and the greater the pixel resolution, the greater the electricity consumption. To reduce your monitor’s energy needs, turn down the screen resolution.

3. I will make an effort to reduce my freight-related carbon emissions

By replacing airfreight systems with more friendly options, such as rail, road or sea, you reduce the amount of C02 emissions your company creates.

4. I will reduce my chemical waste

By using energy-efficient batteries and being aware of the materials used in the computers you buy, you can help reduce the amount of toxic waste created. Many PC casings are manufactured using flame-retardant products that leach bromine and/or chlorine into the environment. Lead, cadmium and mercury are also problematic by-products created by computers and batteries. These not only damage the earth, but can cause serious health problems associated with the human nervous system. The presence of these chemicals prohibits recycling but, according to the 2007 Greenpeace Electronics Survey, e-waste is being dumped in China, where it is dismantled piece-by-piece. Toxic brominated flameretardants are being found in the blood of people working to dismantle the products – not good. Look for manufacturers who take responsibility for the entire life cycle of their products and who have developed Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policies.

5. I will avoid using harmful packaging materials

Replace packaging products, such as plastic and polystyrene, with more sustainable and less toxic alternatives, such as paper and cardboard.

6. I will find more efficient ways to access the net

By using WiFi or built-in mobile broadband, you’ll use less electricity by taking the modem out of the equation. If you do need a modem, consider a broadband modem that has a USB connection for your notebook, or do a deal on a ‘smart’ phone with broadband access. Some laptop manufacturers have begun integrating 3G connectivity as well as wireless. Similarly, portable hard drives are super energy-efficient and offer huge electricity savings.

7. I will buy more efficient accessories

By choosing an all-in-one printer, scanner, fax and copier, you’ll reduce the number of power sources needed. By buying a faster, more efficient printer you’ll also use far less power. Consider not only what sort of ink cartridges you use, but also how you dispose of them. Many companies now manufacture cartridges that use toners and inks specially formulated to ensure they won’t harm the environment.

8. I will use my laptop at my desk in a far cooler way

You have your own reasons for owning a laptop – portability above all – but how often do you actually work with the laptop sitting on your lap? Chances are, you’ll be using it at a desk. Invest in a decent stand to raise the laptop (or ‘notebook’, if you prefer) above desk level, and then plug in a keyboard and mouse. Here are two great reasons why:

• Your notebook/laptop will enjoy better airflow, which means its small cooling fans won’t have to work so hard to keep the system cool.
• You’ll enjoy better ergonomics. You won’t need to hunch over the keyboard or squint at the screen. A plug-in keyboard and mouse set-up will be more comfortable to work with than the compact control deck, and you’ll gain a much better viewing perspective (especially if you plug in an external screen).

Most computer accessories shops have stands ranging from beautiful recycled plastic designs to practical-but-boring numbers made from scrap metal. Of course, if you’re feeling particularly crafty (or thrifty), you could make your own. (Visit Lifehacker for 10 laptop stand ideas)

9. I will get better accessories

You don’t have to be an industrial design afficionado or gadget fetishist to marvel at the miniaturisation of all kinds of smart technology. Thanks to advances in computer component manufacturing, we’re able to take more of our favourite and/or useful technology with us. Some of the hottest computer accessory trends worth tapping include: • Small, energy-efficient, super-fast external hard drives and plug-in combination CD/DVD read/write drives • Tiny memory keys (you probably already own a handful) • Compact webcams and microphones for web video‑calling • Ultra-mobile digital projectors • Wireless everything… from keyboards and mice to network routers, printers and speaker systems

10. I will improve my working knowledge of technology

Some people really enjoy spending their weekends ploughing through a stack of manuals, technical guides and IT magazines. Most don’t. That said, if you can put aside at least a tiny bit of time each week for further education – even just 30 minutes – you’ll soon discover more efficient and maybe even more enjoyable ways to exploit technology. How about taking advantage of the built-in tutorials or ‘tours’ delivered with popular office software? Or reading an FAQ published on your web host’s service site? Or asking your computer supplier about productivity training in your area?

Downtime

11. I will protect myself from downtime

It’s a rare business that can survive lengthy or frequent network downtime. If your system crashes you can lose data, productivity, communications and even your business reputation. Protecting yourself from downtime – and ensuring you’re back up and running as fast as possible if it does happen – is critical to business success.

• Protect business-critical data, such as databases and financial information, by storing off-site. This means that even if your data is lost locally, it can be restored from remote servers.
• Back up all your files and data regularly. For sole traders or home offices, this can be as simple as burning your files to CD or saving them to an external hard drive.
• Invest in an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) unit, which will automatically switch your computer to emergency power during an outage, and shut it down safely in a longer-term outage. It will even protect your equipment from electrical noise and damaging power surges, such as those caused by lightning.
• If you have servers on-site, protect network availability by installing software that monitors humidity and temperature, and then notifies key personnel if conditions change.

12. I will invite the professionals in

If you look after your own servers and other physical infrastructure rather than using an out-sourced provider, it pays to commit to a regular and thorough preventative maintenance plan. This involves inviting the experts over to check and thoroughly test your data centre environment for potential problems. They’ll check for everything from human equipment-handling errors to temperature or power supply fluctuations. Don’t just look at the purchase cost of any system infrastructure. A good service agreement will give you peace of mind by ensuring that downtime can be prevented and, if the worst happens, you can be back up and running with a minimum of downtime, fuss and expense.