inspiredbywordpress

One Day. One Issue. Thousands Of Canvas Bags.

Today, is the International Blog Action Day, where thousands of blogger unite across the world to discus one issue.  Climate Change.  Climate change is internationally a very important issue, it effect all of our futures and we need to do something about it.  Before I really get going, here’s a short video about Blog Action Day.

So, for Blog Action Day 2009 I decided to look at what us web designers and bloggers can do to help save the environment.

As a web design and blogger I spend the majority of my time on my laptop.  I use to to design websites from stage one, as well as to write blog updates and tweet.  As a result I am consuming a lot of energy just to do this.  So, I guess what I am looking at is how we can do out bit by using less resources to do what we do best.  I have spent the majority of the day compiling a list of things we can do to save energy.

1. Don’t leave your computer on. This may sound like a obvious way of saving energy, but you would be amazed at how many people leave their computer on all of the time.  Even if you cannot shut-down your computer put into hibernation or standby when it is not in use, as well as turning of the screen when it is not in use, although this may seem like a small thing it will go a long way.
2. Unplug your phone. When your phone is plugged in it is using energy, and a lot more than most people relies.  By unplugging your phone it will help to use less energy meaning that you are saving a little more of the planet.
3. Turn off your phone. Before you complain that you need your phone on, I do not mean in the day.  Once you have stopped working and begin to relax for the evening or you go to bed for the night you are not going to use it again until the morning, so even if it is on charge turn it off.  By turning off your phone you will not only make your phones battery last longer, but you saving another little bit of the planet.
4. Don’t leave your speakers on. We all do it.  Speakers can use a huge amount of energy powering fairly juicy amplifiers, so even when you are not using them you will be surprised at how much energy they use.  When you are not using them, turn them off.  That wasn’t so hard – was it?
5. Switch that light off! Even if you are only leaving the room for five minutes your light is using energy.  On your way out turn your light off, it not difficult to take a second to turn it back on on the way in, is it?
6. Turn off your desktop. Use Your Laptop.  What use is this?  Simple, your laptop, even paired with an external monitor uses way less energy than your desktop computer.
7. Switch off your second monitor. I know that I am contradicting what I just said above, but do you really need that extra monitor?  Turn it off, you know you’ll feel better for it.
8. Avoid your printer. Why?  We’re in the digital world now, do your really need to waste energy while you kill that tree?
9. Don’t draw that.  Photoshop it. Why waste a tree while your computer sits there killing the environment?  Instead of wasting paper why not just do it on photoshop with your shiny new graphics tablet?
10. Take Your Canvas Bags, Take You Canvas Bags, Take Your Canvas…..

Finally, to conclude this article on climate change, I would like to share a few energy-based statistics with you.  The following image is curtsey of  GOOD.

Please, please tweet, re-tweet, Facebook and email this post everywhere.  Please share it with the world to help make a difference today.