Ch 14: The Digital Footprint
The Hidden Cost of Technology
Written and designed by volunteers: Payton Hammond, Geetansh Dhuria, Samuel Belay, Meerab Khan, Mikaella Garcia
Energy use of data centers & cloud storage
As unbelievable as it may sound, data centers and cloud storage tend to consume an extensive amount of our energy resources. Specifically, energy is used to keep these services and on-premise centers running, despite the increase in users and information. This, in turn, places excessive stress on the hardware used to provide such services and requires external systems to help mitigate overheating. These factors drive up electricity costs for regular customers, while also emitting greenhouse gases, as the energy mainly relies on fossil fuels that release harmful gases. These trends are expected to increase, meaning the technology that we rely on may also be a leading factor in hindering the health of our world.
E-waste and recycling electronics
Recycling electronics helps recover valuable materials and reduces pollution from e-waste. Passing down devices to others extends their life and saves a lot of energy used in production. Proper disposal prevents harmful chemicals from entering the environment. Small actions, like donating old phones or laptops, make a big difference. Together, these choices reduce energy consumption and protect our planet
Rare earth minerals in smartphones
Your Phone isn’t just metal and glass; it holds rare earth minerals mined at great human and environmental cost. Neodymium, Dysprosium, Terbium, Lanthanum, Lithium, and Cobalt power its screen, speakers, camera, and battery. But behind the shine lies deforestation, toxic mining, and child labor. Think before upgrading every year—recycle, reuse, and demand ethical tech
Greener alternatives (repair, reuse, low-energy tech
Changing the way that you use electronics is a great way to practice sustainability! As some examples, using environmentally sustainable electronics known as "green" electronics, using solar chargers, or even sustainable accessories like biodegradable phone cases, are some good ways to start to implement being more environmentally sustainable with your electronics.
