Today’s Pubic Service Announcement
Smart home gear should improve your life, but do it in a way that is earth friendly and efficient. There is no need to over-use smart devices just because it’s fun. Stop lighting up every square inch of your yard just because you want to show off your multi-colored Hue Lily lights. Keep your bills down, reduce waste, and minimize your footprint. That should be an underlying goal in how we live and setup our smart homes.
One of the most environmentally devastating realities in the modern world is our dependence on plastic. It’s in everything and almost completely unavoidable. All we can do is be conscious of our purchase decisions and how we dispose of products once we’re done with them. And, no, we are not doing a great job recycling plastic. You might be surprised to know that ONLY 9% of U.S. plastic trash is recycled. I guess you could say we’re making a dent, but a very small one.
As we continue to add and replace home electronics, think about what’s next for that product. Donate it to Goodwill or sell it. Someone wants your old Amazon Echo. How about giving it away on neighborhood websites like Nextdoor? There is always a better alternative to throwing away your tech.
More info on recycling your Smart Home gear and other tech:
How to Recycle Your Technology – PC Mag
Going green? Here are the easiest ways to recycle your old tech devices – TechRepublic
Donate to 4Ocean or theOceanCleanup – these organizations are dedicated to reducing plastic trash in our world’s oceans.
Now go turn off your lights :)
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