Otelco : How technology can help reduce your carbon footprint

In honor of Earth Day, we're looking at just a few of the ways that you can use technology to help lower your carbon footprint - both at home and in the office. With a few minor adjustments, you can take advantage of some of the latest technologies and know that you're doing your part to go green at the same time.

Minimize travel

You might be seeing more electric cars on the road - and that's a good thing! But beyond emissions regulations and other advancements in terms of vehicle standards, workplace technology is shifting in a way that makes it easier for teams to work together even if they're apart - ultimately reducing the number of people who are commuting on a daily basis.

Microsoft Teams has a number of solutions to make it easier for teams to work togetherand has evenadded several new featuresover the last year that make it easier than ever before for colleagues to collaborate, even if some members of a team are working remotely.

Transition to paperless

Remember printing out every email, PowerPoint, or set of directions? Gone are the days of needing to view everything on paper (and subsequently in the recycling bin).Cloud computingreduces the need for hard copies since access to virtually all of our personal and business communications are available on any number of devices, meaning short-lived paper documents are becoming a thing of the past.

Smart homes save energy

From adjusting the thermostat to turning off the lights,there's seemingly no end to the home technology that can be controlled through any number of smart devices. Beyond the ease of having this control at the touch of a button on your smartphone or with a simple voice command, many of these energy-saving features can be programmed in advance - so you're set up to save energy without even thinking about it.

If you're ready to test the waters with smart devices, you can start small with things like smart light bulbs, which can be controlled via an app and programmed to turn on or off at certain times, or even save electricity by dimming when a lower level of light is needed. Smart plugs are another easy place to start. Use them for things like TVs or computers that can be shut off overnight to reduce your energy consumption.

Shop smarter when it's time to upgrade

There will always be a shiny new version of the devices you use at home and in your office. These days, energy-efficient lighting, office equipment, and home appliances are generally designed with sustainability in mind, so there's a good chance your new model will have a lower carbon footprint. However, consider the lifespan of your used equipment and ensure that you're not regularly trashing usable items to upgrade to the latest model. If your equipment is still in working order, consider donating it to a nonprofit or other organization that may be able to continue to use it rather than sending it to the landfill.

Whatever technology you use to reduce your carbon footprint, be sure to have the speed you need to keep that tech running at its best. Check out our Bandwidth Calculator.