One of the many perks of living in a digital world is the greater independence we have from print technology in communications. Many businesses encourage the digital sharing of files to "save a tree," and employees often include a statement in their email signature, urging their recipients to think before they print.
But digital technology is not without its own environmental impact. Many of us take for granted that sending a message through the cloud is better than through snail mail, but the issue isn't so black and white. To determine how to truly be our greenest, we must measure the long-term energy demands of digital technology.
The Hidden Environmental Costs of Paperless Communication
The International Institute for Sustainable Development reports that a basic PC's contribution to global warming is highest during use, but manufacturing and end-of-life phases are also significant contributors. The institute suggests that governments must analyze a piece of equipment throughout its life-cycle analysis crucial in order to make smart investments and policies.
For example, Low-Tech Magazine reveals that while it takes less wattage to power a 30-watt laptop than a 300-watt fridge, there is a greater energy cost in the production of intricate technology. A 2004 life-cycle analysis determined that you usually need 12 kilograms of fuel for 1 kilogram of computer. Therefore, if you keep your computer for 3 years, this means that the total energy use of a computer or (cell phone) is dominated by production.
What We Can Do
- Of course, use both sides of the paper when you print.
- Whether you're buying paper, hosting services, or electronic devices, Greenbiz suggests that you should ask the company to provide you with an Environmental Product Declaration based on a standards-based lifecycle analysis. If they can't do this, they may not truly be "green."
- Moreover, research companies that are investing in environmental development, such as wind and solar power, and moving away from the use of coal to manufacture their products.
- Keep your electronics for as long as you possibly can. Reformat sluggish laptops before trading them in for newer models.
- Do not discard your used electronics; sell them on eBay or take them to a local recycling centre. (This is not only great for the environment, but also ensures that you are not wasting coltan, a valuable mineral found in almost all electronics, and a conflict mineral that has devastated the Democratic Republic of the Congo—a topic for a whole other article.)
Both print and cloud technologies must continue to modernize by moving away from the use of fossil fuels where possible, and conserving forests by planting after cutting. Greenpeace has analyzed policies that can guide governments into meeting carbon emission targets, but corporations are quicker to change when pushed by consumer demands. Voting with your dollar is the easiest and most direct way to influence corporate policies and support the values you care for.
Related Sources
International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/pdf/2012/com_icts_vickery.pdf
Greenpeace. http://www.greenpeace.org/international/Global/international/planet-2/report/2010/3/make-it-green-cloud-computing.pdf
Low-Tech Magazine. http://www.lowtechmagazine.com/2009/06/embodied-energy-of-digital-technology.html
Greenbiz. https://www.greenbiz.com/blog/2010/04/14/going-paperless-not-green-and-tree-friendly-you-think