Make a plan with your coach about which tasks you will perform to master the following skills:
- recognizing the simple environmental effects of digital technologies and their use.
Examples to develop these skills:
Digital technologies not only affect our daily lives, but also have a significant impact on the environment. From the production of electronic devices to the huge amount of data centers needed to support our digital world, digital technologies are responsible for a significant amount of CO2 emissions and other environmentally harmful behavior. To understand and reduce the environmental effects of digital technologies, it is important to first recognize the simple environmental effects.
Energy consumption: Many digital devices and technologies, such as computers and smartphones, require electricity to operate. This can lead to higher energy consumption and therefore higher energy costs. The production of electricity can also contribute to air and water pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
- Reduce the screen brightness. The screen is often the biggest energy drain of a device. By lowering the brightness, you consume less energy.
- Enable sleep mode. When your device is not in use, it automatically switches to sleep mode after a certain time. This reduces the device's energy consumption.
- Close unnecessary apps and programs. The more apps and programs that run in the background, the more energy your device consumes. Closing unnecessary apps and programs can reduce energy consumption.
- Use energy-saving mode. Many devices have an energy-saving mode that automatically reduces energy consumption. Enable this mode to reduce energy consumption.
- Turn off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth when not in use. Constantly searching for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth signals can consume a lot of energy. Turn off these functions when not in use to save energy.
Electronic waste: When digital devices are thrown away, they can contribute to electronic waste. This can lead to soil and water pollution and can be harmful to human and animal health. You can reduce electronic waste by:
- recycling or donating old devices instead of throwing them away. For example, if you have an old mobile phone that is no longer being used, you can take it to a recycling center or donate it to a charity that accepts old phones.
- repairing devices instead of replacing them when they break. This can often be cheaper than buying a new device and also helps to extend the life of the device.
Production and transport: The production of digital technologies and their components can also have environmental effects. This includes the use of fossil fuels for transport and the emission of greenhouse gases during production. You can contribute to reducing the production of digital technologies and reducing their impact on the environment by:
- using and repairing your current devices for as long as possible instead of replacing them.
- choosing refurbished devices instead of buying new ones, as this can reduce the demand for new production.
- choosing companies that pursue sustainable and environmentally friendly practices when producing their products when you buy a new device.
- switching to digital services instead of physical products, such as e-books instead of paper books.
Cold War: The cooling of data centers requires large amounts of cooling, which can lead to higher energy bills and environmental effects. You can contribute to this by reducing your own digital energy consumption:
- by spending less time on the internet and turning off your devices when not in use, less data is generated and therefore less cooling of data centers is required.
- By ensuring that your devices are set up for energy savings, for example by reducing the brightness of your screen and setting the sleep mode when the device is inactive.
But that's not all - increase the value of your badge by adding your learning process and achievements to your badge. This allows potential employers to gain a better understanding of your digital skills.