08-26-2008, 09:39 AM | #91 | |
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08-26-2008, 10:40 AM | #92 | |
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08-26-2008, 11:24 AM | #93 | |
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yeah, that seems a little whacky. I looked around and it seems he is defining "use" of a book during its lifetime as transfer of ownership from one person to another. So... all the transportation and distribution costs associated with "used" books before they are destroyed/recycled. |
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09-01-2008, 09:33 AM | #94 |
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just stumbled across this article, which was originally posted in may, and thought of this thread. i skimmed the previous posts, and didn't see it mentioned -- i hope it's not a repeat!
"Would you like that book in paper or plastic?" |
09-01-2008, 03:17 PM | #95 |
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In fact, the article sums up nicely what we've been discussing here, IMO. An important aspect of the question, highlighted at the end of the article, is the need for a better assessment of materials used in electronics, and more comprehensive electronics recycling programs in place. Even the most efficient e-book reader is of little use in a landfill.
Once more efficient recycling systems are breaking down and reusing electronics components, there will be little room to argue the matter further... e-book readers will be the more environmentally sound solution. |
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09-01-2008, 04:30 PM | #96 |
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You seem so sure more efficient recycling systems will solve the matter, or that they can even exist for that matter. Recycling costs energy. Recycling of current-day and near-future electronic products will NEVER be energy efficient. You'd have to redesign every component from the ground up to increase the recycling efficiency, and you will STILL need to expend energy. And some things may not recycle well, or at all. That said, if it _is_ possible to recycle efficiently, paper may well turn out to be more readily recyclable than complex electronics. Recycling is not some magic wand which will solve all problems.
Last edited by acidzebra; 09-01-2008 at 04:34 PM. |
09-01-2008, 05:44 PM | #97 |
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I'd always thought the mantra was "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle". Essentially the benefit of a reader is that you can reuse, which you can't with a book (well sort of). Which or p- or e- books makes sense probably depends on the number of books you read, and how long you will hold onto the device. If you are the sort of person who reads three or four books a year, and throws your gadgets into the bin (or leaves them in a drawer) after 6 months to get the newest model, p-books are probably better....
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09-01-2008, 10:26 PM | #98 | |||
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09-02-2008, 10:14 AM | #99 |
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I think multi-function devices which handle ebooks well will turn out to be an energy-win over pbooks (especially if you also include day planners, post-it notes, etc.), but I'm less sure about dedicated devices. For some of us who read hundreds of books per year, quite possibly. But that "device in a drawer/landfill" scenario still seems like a problem to me.
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09-02-2008, 11:41 AM | #100 |
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Certainly, the fewer devices you need/use, the better, just from an energy use standpoint. That equation can be improved by using renewable energy to power some devices. And the fewer devices, the fewer that end up needing recycling.
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09-05-2008, 05:47 AM | #101 |
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Another article.
http://www.smartplanet.com/news/leis...-s-greener.htm |
09-05-2008, 08:24 AM | #102 |
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My information is that UK consumes every year so much paper that is equivalent to a forest with the size of Wales.
I understand it's not only books, but an attitude change is needed to move toward electronic formats in all areas in order to bring breakthrough. So reading ebooks should become commonplace in order to help changing behaviours in the office. As a minimum, we need to make distinction between materials that we read only once (newspapers, reports, novels) and those we refer to again and again (eg. dictionaries, textbooks). I'm not sure about the direct impact of pbooks on the environment, but I believe that there is a huge indirect effect resulting from positioning paper based reading as the normal, accepted behaviour, whereas ebook enthusiasts are considered nerds, geeks, wierdos, etc. (that's my current experience ) That doesn't do good to the cause of reducing environmental footprint. |
09-05-2008, 08:27 AM | #103 |
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Ebook readers would present a good case for using solar energy. I think a sony ereader could be easily equipped with a solar panel as it does not use much electricity on a daily basis. I wonder why Sony does not do that...
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09-05-2008, 08:52 AM | #104 |
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About the only "new" thing I got out of igorsk's article link was an actual amount given to the amount of energy used to download an e-book. Well, not really... it referenced MP3 files, and guessed an e-book would be "smaller."
Other than that, the waste involved with paper books was, IMO, severely understated. And Mambo's point about other periodicals should be taken into consideration. Whether or not a reader competes closely with a novel, against daily newspapers and magazines there would be no contest... the reader would win hands-down. To its credit, it does suggest that the recycling issues for electronic devices need to be considered, especially by the manufacturers themselves. Sony is behind the curve here... many major manufacturers, especially car makers, are looking closely at the recyclability of their products. Other computer and electronics makers need the same signal. Last edited by Steven Lyle Jordan; 09-05-2008 at 09:45 AM. |
09-05-2008, 09:19 AM | #105 |
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A comparative life cycle assessment of two book options by Greg Kozak
I apologize if this link has been posted before, but I found this study
http://css.snre.umich.edu/css_doc/CSS03-04.pdf which might be of interest to the discussion here. |
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environment, green, pollution, resources |
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