October 14, 2009

Making Your Refurbished Computers GreenerFacilitator: Anna S. JaegerCo-Director of GreenTech

TechSoup Global

ajaeger@techsoupglobal.orgwww.techsoup.org/greentech

Topic and Agenda

A discussion of software and techniques you can use to make your refurbished computers even greener and save your clients money.

SuggestionsThings You Already DoThings Clients Can DoDiscussion Questions

Suggestion 1

Set power management – use built in versions or install Verdiem’s Edison:

– Monitor sleep after 5 min– Hard drives to sleep after 15 min– System Sleep after 20 min

Suggestion 2

Install GreenPrint or FinePrint

– Free print management software will likely save your clients money by reducing the printing of unintended pages.

– More info on our blog.

Suggestion 3

If you load office software, set defaults – double-sided printing – margins of 0.7 inches all the way around

Suggestion 4Design and distribute thin-client setup with server and 4-5 thin-client desktops. – Good for labs, public access computers and

light-weight office use (browsers, accessing hosted applications, etc.)

Image: Peter Campbell, Techcafeteria, 2008

Suggestion 5Offer take back programs or point them to the manufacturers’ take back programs. – apply stickers with the information or

include in an information sheet.

http://www.computertakeback.com/corporate/who_takes_back.htmhttp://www.dell.com/content/topics/segtopic.aspx/dell_recycling?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs

Things You Probably Do Already• Wipe hard drives instead of crushing them• Pair desktops with LCD monitors not CRTs• What else?

http://storageeffect.media.seagate.com/files/2008/05/crushed-drives.jpg

Things Clients Can Do• Install MS Server 2008 with Hyper-V to

create virtualized servers or virtual desktop servers. NPOs & libraries can get the data center version from TechSoup.org for $120?

• Install GreenPrint or FinePrint. They are free and will likely save users money by reducing the printing of unintended pages.

• Come to www.techsoup.org/greentech to find other tips and suggestions.

Questions for You• Energy star stickers: If they were previously

removed, can you put on new ones? If you can, do you? – It is entirely legal for you to search on http://

www.energystar.gov and say in signage or that these models are energy star compliant.

• Printers, copiers and multi-function devices: – Can you set the default to double-sided printing?– Can you pre-set the sleep settings? – Do you replace the toner cartridges with refilled

ones or new ones? – What else can you do?

What Else?• Are there other steps you can take to

make your refurbished computers greener?