Software utilities

I do my own bit in terms of minimising the impact my use of technology may have on the environment. I do realise I still have a way to go to reach the optimum level of green usage, but as technology gets faster and faster, I do feel I have to consider the part I have to play in all of it and what I can possibly do to give (back) rather than deplete.

The printer manufacturer, Hewlett-Packard, is doing its own bit, too. Last Thursday, it launched a green ‘initiative’. Part of that initiative was the release of a new ‘green’ printer (the HP DeskJet D2545 - retailing at around $45). It’s mostly made from recycled plastic, including the ink cartridges.

HP has also developed a ‘printing assessment service’ that measures their consumers’ energy usage (usage of printing paper, ink, carbon emissions, etc). But they won’t just assess the consumer’s energy consumption and leave it there – they will also offer advice on how it can be reduced. In my opinion, I feel the latter is needed more than anything as a lot of businesses and individuals might genuinely want to cut down on their energy usage, but might not know how to go about doing it.

Carrying on with the spirit in which they created their latest green printer, HP has also promised to triple the quantity of recycled materials used in its inkjets by 2010.

This is all well and good. HP’s to be commended as it’s adopting an initiative that a lot of other companies (and governments) might be dragging their feet about. However, only time will tell if they’ll reach that goal. I hope they do.

Whether global warming is fact or myth, I’m not willing to risk finding out. There are ways for the world to continue to use and make advances in technology, while still ensuring we have a planet (left) to make those advancements in.