Decrease, reuse and recycle would be the foundation of sustainable living. However, it's time and energy to add another "R" towards the list — restoration.

Repairing electronic devices is as important as the opposite three green watchwords, the particular IEEE, a specialized association for designers, said in the statement. But many manufacturers must initial make their units more "repairable, inch the statement said.

In 2013, more than 1. 7 billion mobiles will be mailed to retailers. Each phone uses 165 pounds of raw materials in its manufacture and more than eight gallons of water from the making of it's microchip. Extending the phone's life to help four years via "modest design modifications, " could slow up the device's environmental result by about 40%, IEEE said.

Phones that may be more easily remedied are good candidates for secondary promotes, both in the usa and abroad. But repairability will also be a valuable feature for a while. Considering this factor could do more than make you feel good about doing your part for the earth; it could also conservemoney. (See also: Meet the Bare Cowboy of iphone 3gs Repairmen. )

Restore the Screwdriver

Because some manufacturers create devices smaller and also sleeker, the companies will also be using more shut down designs and materials which make the phones virtually unfixable, IEEE said.

"Simple things such as utilizing openable conditions, using screws in lieu of adhesives and providing availability to parts that are likely to break, such as screens, greatly increase the repairability of mobile phones, " said Kyle Wiens, IEEE fellow member and CEO associated with iFixit, an on the net do-it-yourself repair site for gadgets.

However, some phones are definitely more repairable than people. For instance, all you need is a Torx screwdriver to help open the casing in the new Samsung Universe S 4. That won't work on the brand new HTC One using its sealed aluminum physique, or with the iPhone.