“Let us first be as simple and well as Nature ourselves,” says Thoreau, and for the most part we listen. We sort our garbage, we recycle our bottles. But do we think about the impact of our computing? If we don’t, it’s important that we start. The power consumption of a typical data center rivals that of a third world nation, and the disposal of old computers, phones and other devices is made dangerous by the toxic components in the batteries and circuits.

Luckily, there are multiple ways to help reduce the impact of your computing, hosting, and gadget obsessions. There is a growing trend in industries greening their practices, and technology companies are no different. Whether it’s refurbishing old computers, environmentally conscious web hosting, or buying back and recycling old technology, there are options available for the everyday consumer.

Webmasters are becoming increasingly interested in green hosting as a means of reducing their carbon footprint. Particularly if you are managing a personal domain, choosing a green host needn’t be any more expensive than other hosts. The small packages are competitive with the best prices of traditional web hosts, and the service is just as good, with one-click installs of popular web services. The efficiencies that the green hosts enjoy mean that they can offer the same level of service at the same prices.

Another way to reduce the environmental impact of computers is to take “reduce, reuse, recycle” to heart. To the “three Rs,” you can add a fourth R – “refurbish.” There are many places to purchase reconditioned computers, often with software packages installed. Even old computers can run smoothly if you install Ubuntu or another flavor of Linux on them. Ubuntu is open source software and easy to get used to, whether you’re a Windows or Mac user. If Linux isn’t your cup of tea, you can find refurbished machines running Windows, or even older Macs.

Some computers, however, have done as much as they could do. Some technology buying sites will even pay for devices, because they can extract value from the recyclable materials.

As awareness grows of the environmental impact that comes with the convenience of the Internet, more consumers are looking for ways to green their computing practices. Many consider this a moral responsibility, others are simply looking for a good deal that doesn’t come with a chaser of guilt. Whatever your reason, there are ways to reduce your carbon footprint with a minimum of fuss.