The article in the url below discusses the relative environmental impacts of using paper versus distributing information via the web:
“Many opinion formers argue that the trend towards greater use of electronic media can only bring environmental benefits. By cutting down fewer trees, creating less paper waste and through increased use of on-line media the world can only be a better place. I am not sure that I buy all of these arguments.”
While it is true that the manufacture of paper involves significant tree loss, and printing on that paper consumes energy and poisons (ink), online information exchange does not necessarily involve a lower environmental impact:
“Electronic media require massive global infrastructure not least to support access to the world-wide web and to appropriate technology to view information. The industry hasn't exactly raced to be transparent about the energy profile of the technology behind the internet.”
Ultimately:
“How can we compare, for example, the carbon profile of unique users viewing a web page with the carbon burden of a print run of equivalent reports?”
The author illustrates this issue with a lot of data regarding the energy usage of “massive data warehouses,” but also finds a way to make the issue accessible:
“Recent research has also highlighted that performing two Google searches from a desktop computer can generate about the same amount of carbon dioxide as boiling a kettle for a cup of tea.”
Google’s response to this debate is posted on the firm’s “official Google blog” at (http://www.googleblog.blogspot.com/2009/01/powering-google-search.html):
“We thought it would be helpful to explain why this number is *many* times too high. Google is fast — a typical search returns results in less than 0.2 seconds. Queries vary in degree of difficulty, but for the average query, the servers it touches each work on it for just a few thousandths of a second. Together with other work performed before your search even starts (such as building the search index) this amounts to 0.0003 kWh of energy per search, or 1 kJ. For comparison, the average adult needs about 8000 kJ a day of energy from food, so a Google search uses just about the same amount of energy that your body burns in ten seconds.”
Have a good weekend.
DavidBill Werther & David Chandler
Strategic Corporate Social Responsibility
© Sage Publications, 2006
Paper versus the web – Is there a clear winner?
Leading consultant calls on the print industry to fight its 'green' cornerMark Line
August 21, 2009
The Guardian
