Ebook: Computers and the Environment: Understanding and Managing their Impacts

Personal computers have made life convenient in many ways, but what about their impacts on the environment due to production, use and disposal? Manufacturing computers requires prodigious quantities of fossil fuels, toxic chemicals and water. Rapid improvements in performance mean we often buy a new machine every 1-3 years, which adds up to mountains of waste computers. How should societies respond to manage these environmental impacts?
This volume addresses the environmental impacts and management of computers through a set of analyses on issues ranging from environmental assessment, technologies for recycling, consumer behaviour, strategies of computer manufacturing firms, and government policies. One conclusion is that extending the lifespan of computers (e.g. through reselling) is an environmentally and economically effective strategy that deserves more attention from governments, firms and the general public.

---

Personal computers have made life convenient in many ways, but what about their impacts on the environment due to production, use and disposal? Manufacturing computers requires prodigious quantities of fossil fuels, toxic chemicals and water. Rapid improvements in performance mean we often buy a new machine every 1-3 years, which adds up to mountains of waste computers. How should societies respond to manage these environmental impacts?
This volume addresses the environmental impacts and management of computers through a set of analyses on issues ranging from environmental assessment, technologies for recycling, consumer behaviour, strategies of computer manufacturing firms, and government policies. One conclusion is that extending the lifespan of computers (e.g. through reselling) is an environmentally and economically effective strategy that deserves more attention from governments, firms and the general public.

---

Personal computers have made life convenient in many ways, but what about their impacts on the environment due to production, use and disposal? Manufacturing computers requires prodigious quantities of fossil fuels, toxic chemicals and water. Rapid improvements in performance mean we often buy a new machine every 1-3 years, which adds up to mountains of waste computers. How should societies respond to manage these environmental impacts?
This volume addresses the environmental impacts and management of computers through a set of analyses on issues ranging from environmental assessment, technologies for recycling, consumer behaviour, strategies of computer manufacturing firms, and government policies. One conclusion is that extending the lifespan of computers (e.g. through reselling) is an environmentally and economically effective strategy that deserves more attention from governments, firms and the general public.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-viii
Computers and the Environment—An Introduction to Understanding and Managing their Impacts....Pages 1-15
Information Technology Products and the Environment....Pages 17-39
Environmental Impacts in the Production of Personal Computers....Pages 41-72
How the European Union’s Weee Directive will Change the Market for Electronic Equipment—Two Scenarios....Pages 73-86
IBM’s Environmental Management of Product Aspects....Pages 87-98
Environmental Management at Fujitsu Siemens Computers....Pages 99-130
Energy Consumption and Personal Computers....Pages 131-159
PCS and Consumers—A Look at Green Demand, Use, and Disposal....Pages 161-181
Strategizing the End-of-Life Handling of Personal Computers: Resell, Upgrade, Recycle....Pages 183-196
Today’s Markets for used PCS—and Ways to Enhance them....Pages 197-209
Recycling Personal Computers....Pages 211-229
Operations of a Computer Equipment Resource Recovery Facility....Pages 231-251
Managing PCS Through Policy: Review and Ways to Extend Lifespan....Pages 253-278
Back Matter....Pages 279-285

---

Personal computers have made life convenient in many ways, but what about their impacts on the environment due to production, use and disposal? Manufacturing computers requires prodigious quantities of fossil fuels, toxic chemicals and water. Rapid improvements in performance mean we often buy a new machine every 1-3 years, which adds up to mountains of waste computers. How should societies respond to manage these environmental impacts?
This volume addresses the environmental impacts and management of computers through a set of analyses on issues ranging from environmental assessment, technologies for recycling, consumer behaviour, strategies of computer manufacturing firms, and government policies. One conclusion is that extending the lifespan of computers (e.g. through reselling) is an environmentally and economically effective strategy that deserves more attention from governments, firms and the general public.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-viii
Computers and the Environment—An Introduction to Understanding and Managing their Impacts....Pages 1-15
Information Technology Products and the Environment....Pages 17-39
Environmental Impacts in the Production of Personal Computers....Pages 41-72
How the European Union’s Weee Directive will Change the Market for Electronic Equipment—Two Scenarios....Pages 73-86
IBM’s Environmental Management of Product Aspects....Pages 87-98
Environmental Management at Fujitsu Siemens Computers....Pages 99-130
Energy Consumption and Personal Computers....Pages 131-159
PCS and Consumers—A Look at Green Demand, Use, and Disposal....Pages 161-181
Strategizing the End-of-Life Handling of Personal Computers: Resell, Upgrade, Recycle....Pages 183-196
Today’s Markets for used PCS—and Ways to Enhance them....Pages 197-209
Recycling Personal Computers....Pages 211-229
Operations of a Computer Equipment Resource Recovery Facility....Pages 231-251
Managing PCS Through Policy: Review and Ways to Extend Lifespan....Pages 253-278
Back Matter....Pages 279-285
....