Environmental Issues Computing Science National 5 Environmental Issues V2

The Greenhouse Effect Using fossil fuels (oil, gas or coal) produces carbon dioxide (CO2). Greenhouse gases are chemicals that prevent heat escaping from the Earth’s atmosphere, like the glass panels of a greenhouse. They allow sunlight through but absorb the heat that radiates back as the Earth's surface is heated – trapping the extra heat inside the atmosphere. Computers contribute about 2% of greenhouse gases, nearly the same as airlines. Environmental Issues V2

Energy Use: The Carbon Footprint The carbon footprint = the total amount of CO2 a person, household, product or organisation produces each year as a result of the energy they use. Manufacturing computers uses a high amount of energy. A United Nations study showed that making one desktop computer uses: more than 240 kg of fossil fuels (oil and gas) 22 kg of chemicals goes into making the plastic body and flat screen 1500 kg of water is used in the process Environmental Issues V2

How can we help? Buying a new computer? Do you really need a new one? Could your old computer be updated by adding more RAM or installing a new hard disk drive? If you do need a new computer opt for one of the low, power, energy efficient computers. Some retailers use energy ratings to identify which products are greener. Video Link – PC Power Consumption Environmental Issues V2

Energy Use Computers are used by countless numbers of people across the world for business and leisure. IT equipment in the home accounts for around 13% of electricity used - this has a huge impact on the environment, adding to our individual carbon footprint. Everyday use of computers makes a significant contribution to global warming. So how can we save energy when using computers? Environmental Issues V2

Smarter Energy Usage The best way to save energy is to turn off the computer when it is not in use! Environmental Issues V2

Smarter Energy Usage (1) There are a number of products available to help cut down your standby electricity consumption such as standby savers that turn your printer off at the mains when your computer is not in use. Turn down the monitor brightness –the brightest setting consumes twice the power used by the dimmest one. On laptops, the display is the single largest consumer of energy. Environmental Issues V2

Smarter Energy Usage (2) Screen savers are unnecessary on modern monitors. Studies show they actually consume more energy than allowing the monitor to “go to sleep” when not in use. Solar energy battery chargers can be used for laptop computers or smartphones. Environmental Issues V2

Smarter Energy Usage (3) Reuse ink cartridges by having them refilled for a fraction of the cost of buying new. Many printers offer an ‘Eco’ or ‘Draft’ mode that reduces the toner or ink used and should be suitable for many day-to- day printouts. When they can no longer be refilled, recycle cartridges. Reduce by only printing when absolutely necessary. Pass them on to others in an electronic format (email or files on a memory stick).   Reuse paper if you are printing out non essential documents, print on the back of old paper or use it as scrap paper. Once the paper can no longer be used put it into a recycling bin and recycle it. Consider buying recycled paper. Video Link - How to Green your PC Environmental Issues V2

Disposal of Old Computers We replace our computers more often than any other type of electronic device – most people have their TV longer than their computer. Electronic waste (e-waste) is any broken or unwanted electrical or electronic device and is currently the most rapidly-growing type of waste. If thrown away, they usually end up in a landfill site. A landfill site is a site for the disposal of waste materials by burial and is the oldest form of waste treatment. Environmental Issues V2

Why recycle computer equipment? Discarded computer equipment comprises monitors, printers, hard drives and circuit boards. Such items should never be thrown out with your household rubbish because they contain toxic substances and are actually hazardous waste. Computers and smartphones are made from many materials - gold, lead, bromine, cadmium and mercury are found in high levels - these can release toxins into the environment, potentially polluting the water that people and animals drink and the air they breathe. E-waste often ends up in the developing world as much waste has been improperly disposed of overseas. There is increasing concern about the pollution caused by hazardous chemicals and heavy metals in Africa, Asia and South America. Video Link - E-waste recycling Environmental Issues V2

WEEE (Waste Electrical Electronic Equipment) The WEEE (Waste Electrical Electronic Equipment) regulations set out rules for the collection, treatment, recycling and recovery of waste electrical and electronic equipment. These include most products that have a plug or need a battery. Every year an estimated 2 million tonnes of WEEE items are discarded by households and companies in the UK. This includes everything from washing machines to computer equipment, telephones and calculators. The regulations apply to businesses and, unfortunately, not to individuals. At present most people’s old computers end up in landfill sites. Environmental Issues V2

Disposal Options Manufacturer Disposal Professional Waste Disposal It is better to re-use old computers rather than just throwing them away, often computers can be passed on to someone who can still use them. Before you recycle your old computer you should make sure you remove all of your files and data from it. Options to dispose include: Manufacturer Disposal Professional Waste Disposal Donation to Charity Environmental Issues V2

Positive Effects So far we have looked at how computers can add to climate change but there are ways that computers actually help us improve the environment and combat climate change. Gather and process climate data so that we can understand what is going on and predict what might happen in future. For instance, NASA uses a supercomputer system called Discover to research climate change.  Help us create smart technologies that adjust themselves to reduce their environmental impact, such as lights that can sense when no one is in the room and automatically turn off.   Environmental Issues V2

Positive Effects Provide a worldwide virtual laboratory so that experts can share research and ideas to come up with better, smarter solutions. This allows people far away from each other to work together and also reduces the environmental impact from people travelling to meet each other. Provide paperless communication like email and online bill paying to help reduce the amount of trees cut down.   Environmental Issues V2

Positive effects Today, new computing technologies face a challenge to be both more efficient and to protect the environment at the same time. Some specific examples of creative and imaginative approaches are cloud computing, grid computing, telecommuting and downloading music. Environmental Issues V2

Cloud Computing Nowadays, many businesses and organisations do not own the powerful computers that process and store their data. Instead, they buy cheap systems that allow their workers to access the Internet and then rent computing power and data storage space from cloud computing providers.   This is very green because it means that less resources are needed to produce fewer computers and less energy is used running them day-to-day. In effect, they are sharing powerful computers with other users rather than buying, maintaining and running their own. Video Link – Cloud Computing Environmental Issues V2

Grid Computing In grid computing, large numbers of computers work together to solve complex problems such as analysing the forces that cause earthquakes. They do this by allowing their computer’s processor to contribute some of its processing power through a connection to a network (the internet). Video Link – Grid Computing Environmental Issues V2

Telecommuting Video Link – Yahoo Ban on Telecommuting Many workers have fast internet connections which let them work at home and communicate with their office by telephone or teleconferencing when necessary.   Telecommuting reduces greenhouse gases by cutting down the need for travelling to work, reducing the fuel used and cutting the travel costs for the worker. It also saves time spent travelling in to work, so working in this way can increase a worker’s efficiency. There is evidence that telecommuters are 40% more productive than their office-based counterparts. Companies do not have to buy as much computer equipment as employees often have their own computers and they cut down on their power use as they have fewer workers in the workplace. However, the employees themselves will use more power at home to run the computers. Video Link – Yahoo Ban on Telecommuting Environmental Issues V2

Downloading Music Downloading music is more environmentally friendly than buying CDs. Buying a digital album can reduce CO2 emissions by 40 to 80% because CDs must be manufactured, packaged and transported over long distances, whereas downloads do not. Where the buyer downloads the music and then burns it onto a CD and puts it in a CD case — the saving is 40%. If the downloaded music is not burned onto a CD, the saving rises to 80%. Buying digitally is becoming more and more popular with people. Currently, 55% of all music sales are digital. Environmental Issues V2