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krikooo94

Cleaning Up Electronic Waste (E-Waste) | US EPA - 0 views

  • EPA works bilaterally with governments and environmental officials around the world on e-waste management.  U.S. EPA and Taiwan Environmental Protection Administration (Taiwan EPA) coordinate the International E-Waste Management Network (IEMN), which has brought together environmental officials from Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, and North America to exchange best practices on e-waste management since 2011. 
  • EPA also collaborates with the Solving the E-waste Problem Initiative (Step)Exit Exit EPA website  to jointly address the e-waste problem in developing countries. Step, formerly known as UNU-Step, was previously an initiative under the United Nations University (UNU)
  • “E-waste”, “electronic waste”, “e-scrap” and “end-of-life electronics” are terms often used to describe used electronics that are nearing the end of their useful life, and are discarded, donated or given to a recycler.
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  • An undetermined amount of used electronics is shipped from the United States and other developed countries to developing countries that lack the capacity to reject imports or to handle these materials appropriately. Without proper standards and enforcement, improper practices may result in public health and environmental concerns, even in countries where processing facilities exist.
  • For example, there are problems with open-air burning and acid baths being used to recover valuable materials from electronic components, which expose workers to harmful substances. There are also problems with toxic materials leaching into the environment. These practices can expose workers to high levels of contaminants such as lead, mercury, cadmium and arsenic, which can lead to irreversible health effects, including cancers, miscarriages, neurological damage and diminished IQs.
  • To this end, EPA funded UNU-StEP to lead a study on US exports of used electronics in an attempt to better define the US contribution to the overall e-waste problem.  StEP collaborated with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the National Center for Electronics Recycling (NCER)
  • In July 2011, the Task Force released the National Strategy for Electronics Stewardship report, which details the federal government’s plan to enhance the management of electronics by: 1) incentivizing greener design of electronics; 2) leading by example; 3) increasing domestic recycling; and 4) reducing harmful exports of e-waste and building capacity in developing countries.  
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    This article is explaining electronic waste and its danger to developing countries when the materials are not properly disposed of. Many countries have joined forces to create the International E-Waste Management Network (IEMN).
kmill139

Why the U.S. is Terrible at Recycling Electronics | Digital Trends - 0 views

  • E-waste in the United States is out of control.
  • You may assume America has to at least be on par with the rest of the first world when finding a forever home for computers, phones, and printers, but you’d be wrong.
  • Those millions of old motherboards and TVs consoles rotting in landfills and warehouses aren’t just eyesores. They amount to a massive health hazard. While electronics waste comprises only 2-3 percent of America’s solid waste stream, the lead, cadmium, chromium, and other materials in aging circuitry account for 70 percent of the hazardous material in landfills, according to an EPA report.
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  • Others go belly up, leaving behind millions of pounds of old gadgets piled in mountainous heaps atop land which has lead levels many times normal.
  • You’re probably not screaming into a paper bag about the $20 billion or so of gold that’s trashed in electronics every year worldwide. Precious metals come and go. But if you care about the soil that comprises the land of the brave, you should start thinking about what happened to last year’s smartphone (even if it’s just sitting in the garage).
  • This list of reasons isn’t exhaustive, but serves as a solid starting point for understanding the United States’ e-waste dilemma and what can be done.
  • U.S. e-waste recycling laws are often outdated or nonexistent
  • Only 25 states (plus Washington, D.C.) have legislation that addresses e-waste recycling. The other 25 don’t have comprehensive programs, and don’t report what happens to the electronics beyond occasional voluntary numbers, says Jason Linnell, head of the National Center for Electronics Recycling (NCER). Federal laws don’t explicitly address e-waste recycling.
  • The U.S. isn’t good at recycling
  • The current level and effectiveness of e-waste recycling depends on which state you live in and whether or not you trust locals to “do the right thing.” The hope for improvement sits with congressional reps, state lawmakers, manufacturers, and gadget freaks (yes, you).
  • Single-stream recycling hasn’t helped
  • Between 2005 and 2014, single stream recycling programs increased from 29 to 80 percent in American towns and cities. During that same time period, material contamination rates increased from 7 to 25 percent.
  • E-waste legislation regularly disappears in Congress
  • This is not the first Congressional session in which similar bills have been introduced and allowed to die like a first grade classroom goldfish on summer break. SEERA currently sits with the house’s Foreign Affairs Committee. Why is it so tough to pass e-waste legislation?
  • The U.S. is an environmental rogue
  • As of late 2018, 186 states and the European Union have ratified it and follow its legal framework. The United States has signed the Basel Convention, indicating an intent to ratify, but is the only developed nation that hasn’t actually done so, which
  • After the initial Basel Convention was adopted in 1989, many organizations said the treaty didn’t do enough to address the disposal of waste from first world countries into the developing world, and pressed for an update, which eventually became 1995’s Basel Ban Amendment. The tweak — which was attacked by many industrial powers, including the U.S., Canada, and Japan — needed three decades before it was accepted by enough countries to go into effect. In August 2019, Croatia became the 97th country to ratify it, which transformed the updated stipulations into international law in December 2019.
  • EPA regulations are incomplete
  • Federal attempts at regulation have stalled, been killed
  • U.S. pushes back against international efforts
  • As a part of the 2003 Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE Directive), the public was guaranteed free recycling services, and conveniently located collection centers. Around the same time, the EU also passed the Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive (RoHS), aka the “lead-free directive,” which restricts the use of several toxic materials in the manufacture of circuitry and electronic products.
  • In Japan, the Association for Electric Home Appliances requires consumers to help pay for the processing of their goods and manufacturers to set up recycling programs. Electronics recycling has been promoted as such a point of national pride — because Japan is both a huge consumer of gadgets and the country has few indigenous precious metals — that there’s serious talk of making the 2020 Tokyo Olympic metals out of recycled materials. An estimated 80,000 cell phones need to be pulled apart and picked over to complete the plan.
  • State-level e-cycling programs are uneven
  • Certified e-cycling programs are important, but also confusing
  • If you’re the compliance officer who has to make sure the company’s used servers don’t wind up getting tossed in an Indonesian landfill, and you won’t have to nervously answer questions in a “60 Minutes” exposé, you probably want to get that e-waste removed by a disposal team with one of these
  • That all sounds great until you listen to Puckett, who helped create the e-Stewards protocols. He’s one of several people who took part in the development of R2 for over two years and then refused to continue when the proposed guidelines seemed to be too tainted by lobbyists, including ones at the Institute of Scrap Recycling (ISRI), an organization that favors a free market approach over regulation. Puckett and 13 recyclers created e-Stewards, which describes itself as the “the cleanest, most globally responsible standard for e-waste recycling.” He points out that the R2 certification still allows recyclers to export to developing countries. E-Stewards’ doesn’t. R2 recyclers can drop toxic e-waste in landfills or incinerators in the event of “circumstances beyond their
  • Scrap recycling lobby doesn’t like regulations
  • The announcer proudly explains e-cycling is a vibrant industry that adds 20.6 billion to the U.S. economy and supports 45,000 jobs domestically, “safeguarding our environment,” along the way.
  • Can anything be done? Possibly
  • Recycling isn’t the only answer for fewer landfills filled with decaying circuits. Chris Wellise, Chief Sustainability Officer for Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), which installs and recovers tech, emphasizes the importance of designing products for longevity, disassembly, and reuse.
  • “On average, 85 percent of the environmental impacts can be addressed in the design phase,” estimates Wellise.
  • Similar challenges exist for smartphones. Review IFixit’s guide for repairability and you can expect the phones that are easy to disassemble are also easier to refurbish or scrap. In an unusual display of transparency, eco-minded electronics company Fairphone sells spare parts on its site and has visual cues printed on the pieces to help novices figure out where everything goes. In case you’re wondering, it’s possible to make a Fairphone work in America, but most of the company’s sales are in Europe.
  • In 2018, Apple gave birth to Daisy, a robot that can disassemble 200 of the company’s phones in an hour — 1.2 million a year. The company has an installation of the machine in Austin, Texas, and another in the Netherlands. Daisy’s supply chain of used products comes from the company’s in-store trade-in program and a partnership with Best Buy.
  • Pretty awe-inspiring, right? Keep in mind that Apple sold over 217 million phones just in 2018 and has moved 2.2 billion iPhone units since the product line launched in 2007. The two Daisy divisions aren’t even working at capacity. Apple is willing to license the robot technology so any company can use it to disassemble phones, but none have approached them yet.
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    "Maybe it's easy to ignore the huge percentage of vintage gadgets that wind up torched in dicey scrap heaps in developing countries". This article was written on Feb-27-2020. The problem we saw on the old video is still very much a problem now, only bigger.
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    This article was super informative in the realm of E-waste. It covered every aspect of the issue and most definitely is relevant in today's world.
JIACHEN LI

EPA Recognizes HEI Hotels & Resorts With 2013 ENERGY STAR® Partner Of The Yea... - 1 views

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    NORWALK, Conn., March 6, 2013 /PRNewswire/-For the fourth year in a row, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recognized HEI Hotels & Resorts with the ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year - Sustained Excellence Award for HEI's continued leadership in protecting our environment through superior energy efficiency. HEI Hotel & Resorts' accomplishments will be recognized at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. on March 26, 2013.
yongwei hao

Cleaning Up Electronic Waste | International Programs | US EPA - 0 views

  • While accurate data on the amount of e-waste being exported from the U.S. are not available, the United States government is concerned that these exports are being mismanaged abroad, causing serious public health and environmental hazards, and representing a lost opportunity to recover valuable resources effectively. U.S. laws and regulations are limited in their ability to prevent harmful exports of used electronics to developing countries.
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    From computers and cell phones, to portable communication and music devices -- the United States of America is a global leader in designing and developing new and improved electronic technologies. With this vibrant innovation, however, comes the increasing challenge of protecting human health and the environment from the potentially harmful effects of poorly managed manufacturing, use, recovery, recycling and disposal of these products.
Jeremy Fairley

Electrical Contractor: Hotel Automation Goes Wireless - 1 views

  • “We have wireless and hardwired versions, making it easy for both new construction and retrofitting existing hotels,” Sobieski said. The intelligent thermostats can communicate over a ZigBee wireless network, giving the hotel’s engineering team full control and monitoring of every room in the hotel. “With our EcoCentral remote management platform, shutting down a wing for maintenance is as simple as a mouse click. Built-in alerting also gives them the ability to catch problem HVAC systems before a guest call comes in.”
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    Article speaks about hotel automation systems by vendors, that allow hotels to reduce energy and utility costs that impact the bottom line. The EPA estimated that in 2004 the hotel industry spent more than $5 billion on energy and that the number was likely to increase. Items such as occupancy based thermostats communicate over wireless networks and allow hotel staff to perform maintenance tasks such as detect issues with in-room HVAC systems before guests call in to report the items. Other systems use energy monitoring systems that allow for the hotel to detect room temperatures. This is significant as those rooms temperature and lighting systems can know whether the occupant is in the room and adjust lighting and temperature settings accordingly. Energy waste in hotels is an issue that affects the bottom line so the potential for ROI is great. Implementation of many of these systems is flexible as many are built on wireless networks that do not require heavy physical installation of wiring. Interested in the groups thoughts on this?
avila031

The depressing truth about e-waste: 10 things to know - TechRepublic - 0 views

  • What is surprising, however, is how little the public knows about e-waste and how to properly dispose of electronics.
  • Electronic waste is a globalized business, and about 70% to 80% of it is shipped to landfills in many developing nations,
  • under-regulated environments.
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  • In 2012, the US generated more than 9 million tons of e-waste, which was a huge jump from its 2 million tons in 2005. According to the EPA, 141 million mobile devices were ready for end-of-life management in 2008, but they made up less than 1% of discarded electronics. Of the electronic waste the US generated, only 25% was recycled. The other 75% was sent to landfills in the US or abroad.
  • United Nations' Solving the E-Waste Problem (StEP) Initiative,
  • harmful elements include:Lead, which is in most electronic equipmentBeryllium, a lightweight metal in many electronics Mercury, in many lighting displays Polyvinyl chloride, often used for cabling in circuit board
  • The Responsible Electronics Recycling Act of 2013, which would make it illegal for the US to send toxic e-waste to other nations was never passed. The Senate introduced the same one in March 2014, but it still hasn't passed.
  • Apple unveiled a new trade-in program for iPhones
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    This article focuses on the electronic waste epidemic that is occurring all around the globe. Because so many people are clueless on the subject they have listed out the 10 basic things you should know on the subject. 1. Is everything that makes up electronic waste which is just about everything you use and everything in your home including fridges, washing machines, ect. 2. It explains where all of it goes, even though we think it may be getting disposed of properly about 80% is sent to developing nations. 3. It explains that this is extremely dangerous as it has harmful elements that can even cause death when not handled properly. 4. It has the potential to be used again or even made into new things like jewelry. 5. There are trust worthy places you can take your old electronics such as e-Stewards. 6. Ways to avoid giving your old electronics to the wrong person. 7. The reason this is happening is because there really isn't any laws to prevent it. 8. Thankfully now companies are starting to implement trade in programs. 9. China is truly suffering from this problem. 10. Shows just how little people know about E-waste.
cpaez007

Recycling Electronic Waste Responsibly: Excuses Dwindle - The New York Times - 0 views

  • Recycling electronics is becoming easier by the day.
  • Still, most old gadgets end up in the trash. Americans alone throw away two million to three million tons of electronics yearly, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. With the life span of devices shrinking — the average phone is replaced every 18 months — the problem keeps growing worse.
  • The solution is not just recycling. It’s to be sure that you’re recycling with a responsible processor.
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  • EStewards and S.E.R.I. use a network of auditors to make sure companies like GreenCitizen are doing what they say they’re doing.
  • Organizations around the world have been certified by S.E.R.I. and eStewards. Both groups let you search their websites for local options. In New York, for example, you can take electronics to GreenChip Electronic Waste Solutions, an R2-certified recycler, or have them picked up by 4th Bin, which is certified by eStewards and also has R2 certification.
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    The issue of illegal electronic dumping has been a real severity, and mostly because people are unaware of what happens to the products that they used to own. Luckily, our world is advancing to a point where appropriate disposal is being greatly developed. There are different mainstream companies that will take your old products to refurbish them, or handle them accordingly. Most importantly, there are companies like GreenCitizen, who are responsibly recycling products. They gather all of the old technology, and attempt to refurbish it. If not possible, then they use the parts, or just dispose of it in the right way. Certified monitors of the recycling process look over the practices of GreenCitizen to make sure that they are doing their jobs correctly. Actions are being dealt more responsibly, as the EPA and these certified monitors have gotten involved. Recycling used to be claimed, but done wrongly. Now, these groups closely overlook the process, and ensure that things are being done appropriately.
teresastas

Skullcandy Promises to Slash 1 Million Pounds of E-Waste - 0 views

  • EPA says recycling, reusing or donating electronics prevents pollution and carbon emissions because fewer materials for items such as plastics or batteries do not have to be produced again. The energy saved from recycling 1 million laptops, for example, is equivalent to powering 3,500 homes in the US for a year, according to the agency.
    • teresastas
       
      This comparison is really eye opening for me. I know. Sometimes we get lost in all the numbers but when you look at it this way it's crazy to think about.
  • Skullcandy also says it will eliminate the use of plastics entirely by 2023 and shift to using only FSC certified paper products.
    • teresastas
       
      I think it is very important that companies that contribute to the e waste problem also help to fix the problem like Skullcandy is working towards doing. The idea of eliminating the use of plastics entirely on top of their e-waste pledge is making the right moves.
  • company has a partnership with environmental intelligence platform EcoChain, which helps the company analyze the carbon footprint of its manufacturing. One impact of that program is the development of a smaller battery.
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  • recycling by letting customers send any type or brand of headphones to the company to be properly recycled, giving them discounts for doing so.
  • Skullcandy Promises to Slash 1 Million Pounds of E-Waste
    • teresastas
       
      Headphone and Speaker company Skullcandy is making moves towards helping the fight against e-waste (short of closing it's doors of course). It recently pledged this month that it would eliminate one million pounds of e-waste by 2025 its new upcycling program. This program includes a few factors including a no plastic packing plan, an upcycling endeavor, and discounts to customers for responsible recycling of any headphone brands.
ajean132

E-Waste: Five Billion Phones to Be Thrown Away in 2022 - 0 views

  • In the past two months, Apple, Google, and Samsung have all launched their newest devices with the hope of getting consumers to upgrade ahead of the winter holidays. However, the companies and their clients may also be adding to a growing environmental problem—namely, that of electronic waste or e-waste.
  • The International Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) announced last week that in 2022, 5.3 billion mobile phones will be thrown away
  • These devices offer many important resources that can be used in the production of new electronic devices or other equipment, such as wind turbines, electric car batteries or solar panels—all crucial for the green, digital transition to low-carbon societies.”
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  • Precious minerals not extracted from waste electronics, such as the copper in wire or the cobalt in rechargeable batteries, have to be mined. This further adds to the ongoing problem.
  • Official United Nation’s data indicates that the world generated a staggering 53.6 million metric tons in 2019 alone. Of that, only 17.4 percent was recycled.
  • Τhe International Telecommunication Union has set a target to raise that to thirty percent by next year. The reason is because e-waste is one of the “fastest growing and most complex waste streams that affects both human health and the environment, as it can contain harmful substa
  • To improve conditions, the International E-Waste Management Network, run by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Taiwan EPA, held a workshop for eleven countries in 2018.
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    This article addresses the growing environmental, financial, and political issues involved with e-waste. It provides predictions on the future of e-waste if it continues at its dangerous rate. An analysis of e-waste and how it can be reduced is also included.
chadidscha

Electronic Waste Recycling: A Global Problem in Need of Solutions - 0 views

  • Cellphones, computers, and other technological products contain a number of valuable materials that must be mined. Rare earths, gold, palladium, copper, and more all reside within our cell phones, TVs, and more.
  • These valuable materials are acquired through intensive mining operations. The recycling of such materials from our old gadgets would allow us to reuse these valuable materials, ultimately requiring less mining and conserving our finite resources. According to the EPA, the recycling of one million cell phones yields 35,000 lbs. of
  • The toxic components in e-waste not only pose risks to workers in developing nations, but they also pose risks to the environment; where e-waste is either improperly handled or disposed of, there is risk of soil and groundwater contamination.
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  • Many have pinpointed improved legislation, advancement in recycling technologies, increased education, and more convenient recycling programs for resolving the electronic waste crisis. Some companies have already jumped on the bandwagon toward finding improved recycling methods.
  • The Washington-based company behind Redbox and Coinstar has developed a line of ecoATM kiosks, where consumers can conveniently sell their old phones for cash on the spot where they already shop.
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    Electronic waste is a growing problem which affects our soil, groundwater, and more due to improper disposal. This problem was considered a conflicting issue in developing countries in the past; however, that no longer holds truth. Many nations and various companies have become more and more of this issue and try to tackle it by implementing legislations and recycling centers, which allow for proper e-waste disposal. The problem at hand can be dealt with, but a world-wide team effort is needed in order to combat this dilemma.
nelson1oliva

Basic Information about Electronics Stewardship | US EPA - 0 views

  • According to a 2013 report by the Consumer Electronics Association, the average American household uses about 28 electronic products such as personal computers, mobile phones, televisions and electronic readers (e-readers). With an ever increasing supply of new electronic gadgets, EPA's Facts and Figures about Materials, Waste and Recycling show that Americans generated 2.7 million tons of consumer electronics goods in 2018, representing less than one percent of all municipal solid waste generation.
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    There is clearly a connection between ownership of "stuff" and proper stewardship of the same. this article brings to light how this process needs to be sustainable and the responsibilities that we all have to ensure that our own footprint is not causing more harm to our planet through poor management of the items we have purchased. According to a 2013 report by the Consumer Electronics Association, the average American household uses about 28 electronic products such as personal computers, mobile phones, televisions and electronic readers (e-readers). With an ever increasing supply of new electronic gadgets, EPA's Facts and Figures about Materials, Waste and Recycling show that Americans generated 2.7 million tons of consumer electronics goods in 2018, representing less than one percent of all municipal solid waste generation.
smend120

Green Computing, a contribution to save the environment | Lancaster University - 1 views

  • Going Green" is a rising trend establishing itself as the preferred way of doing things while saving the environment.
  • Green computing is the environmentally responsible and eco-friendly use of computers and their resources. In broader terms, it is also defined as the study of designing, engineering, manufacturing, using and disposing of computing devices in a way that reduces their environmental impact.
  • Green Computing involves reducing the environmental impact of technology. That means using less energy, reducing waste and promoting sustainability. Green computing aims to reduce the carbon footprint generated by the Information Technology and Systems business and related industries
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  • Energy-efficiency and e-waste are two major techniques involved in green computing. Energy efficiency involves implementation of energy-efficient central processing units (CPUs), servers and peripherals as well as reduced resource consumption. And e-waste is the proper disposal of electronic waste.
  • It is estimated that out of $250 billion per year spent on powering computers worldwide only about 15% of that power is spent computing, the rest is wasted idling (i.e. consumed by computers which are not in use but still turned ON).
  • A recent example is seen in Intel's 2030 strategy. Intel has been committed to continued progress on achieving net positive water use, 100% green power and zero waste to landfills across Intel's global manufacturing operations.
  • Because "one company can't solve climate change" according to Intel CEO Bob Swan, Intel is marking a new era of shared corporate responsibility and collaboration.
  • Green design: Designing energy-efficient computers, servers, printers, projectors and other digital devices.
  •  Green manufacturing: Minimising waste during the manufacturing of computers and other subsystems to reduce the environmental impact of these activities.
  •  Green use: Minimising the electricity consumption of computers and their peripheral devices and using them in an eco-friendly manner.
  • Green disposal: Repurposing existing equipment or appropriately disposing of, or recycling, unwanted electronic equipment.
  • Going Green" is a rising trend establishing itself as the preferred way of doing things while saving the environment
  • Green Computing, a contribution to save the environment
  • hat means
  • The world is facing challenges that we understand better each day as we collect and analyse more data, but they go unchecked without a collective response - from climate change to deep digital divides around the world to the current pandemic that has fundamentally changed all our lives. We can solve them, but only by working together.
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  • using less energy, reducing waste and promoting sustainability. Green computing aims to reduce the carbon footprint generated by the Information Technology and Systems business and related industries. Energy-efficiency and e-waste are two major techniques involved in green computing. Energy efficiency involves implementation of energy-efficient central processing units (CPUs), servers and peripherals as well as reduced resource consumption. And e-waste is the proper disposal of electronic waste.
  • If we think computers are non-polluting and consume very little energy, in fact the use of computer plays a big role in environment pollution. It is estimated that out of $250 billion per year spent on powering computers worldwide only about 15% of that power is spent computing, the rest is wasted idling
  • the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) launched the Energy Star program, a controlled labelling program to promote and recognise energy-efficiency. The Energy Star label has now certified more than 75 different product categories, homes, commercial buildings and industrial plants. The program has also resulted in the widespread adoption of sleep mode among electronics' consumers.
  • in 1992,
  • The IT industry is putting efforts in all its sectors to achieve Green Computing.
  • Equipment recycling, reduction of paper usage, virtualisation, cloud computing, power management, green manufacturing are the key initiatives towards Green Computing
  • one company can't solve climate change
  • reen Computing involves reducing the environmental impact of technology.
  • Designing energy-efficient computers, servers, printers, projectors and other digital devices.
  • Minimising waste during the manufacturing of computers and other subsystems to reduce the environmental impact of these activities.
  • Green Computing has an optimistic future for saving the environment with ample avenues for making it possible. Hope we move forward with the goal of efficient computing while making the earth greener.
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    Green computing, commonly referred to as "green technology," is the study of creating, utilizing, and disposing of computing systems in a way that minimizes their impact on the environment. The ecologically friendly and ethical use of computers and their resources is known as "green computing." A growing trend that has established itself as the preferred method of doing things while preserving the environment is "Going Green." Green computing aims to lessen technology's negative effects on the environment. This entails conserving energy, cutting waste, and fostering sustainability. The goal of "green computing" is to lessen the carbon footprint left by the information technology and systems sector and allied businesses. Green computing mainly uses two methods: e-waste and energy efficiency. Reduced resource use as well as the use of energy-efficient servers, peripherals, and CPUs are all part of energy efficiency. And e-waste is how electronic garbage should be disposed of properly. Even while we may believe that computers are non-polluting and require relatively little energy, their use really contributes significantly to environmental pollution. Only 15% of the estimated $250 billion annually spent on powering computers globally is thought to be used for computation; the remaining energy is lost idling on inactive machines. Since energy consumption is the primary cause of CO2 emissions, any energy saved on computer hardware and computing will result in tons of CO2 emissions being avoided every year. The Energy Star program was established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1992 as a controlled labeling initiative to promote and reward energy efficiency. More than 75 different product categories, as well as residences, office buildings, and industrial facilities, have already received the Energy Star badge. Consumers of devices have widely embraced sleep mode because of the campaign. The IT industry is working to implement Green Computing across a
nunes305

What is green computing? - Definition from WhatIs.com - 1 views

  • Green computing, also called green technology, is the environmentally responsible use of computers and related resources. Such practices include the implementation of energy-efficient central processing units (CPUs), servers and peripherals as well as reduced resource consumption and proper disposal of electronic waste (e-waste).
  • The work habits of computer users and businesses can be modified to minimize adverse impact on the global environment. Here are some steps that can be taken:
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    "Green computing, also called green technology, is the environmentally responsible use of computers and related resources. Such practices include the implementation of energy-efficient central processing units (CPUs), servers and peripherals as well as reduced resource consumption and proper disposal of electronic waste (e-waste). One of the earliest initiatives toward green computing in the United States was the voluntary labeling program known as Energy Star. It was conceived by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1992 to promote energy efficiency in hardware of all kinds. The Energy Star label became a common sight, especially in notebook computers and displays. Similar programs have been adopted in Europe and Asia."
Patrick Montesano

Can restaurants go green, earn green? - USATODAY.com - 0 views

  • Restaurants are the retail world's largest energy user. They use almost five times more energy per square foot than any other type of commercial building
  • Nearly 80% of the $10 billion dollars that the commercial food service sector spends annually for its energy use is lost in inefficient food cooking, holding and storage
  • The average restaurant annually consumes roughly 500,000 kilowatt hours of electricity, 20,000 therms of natural gas and 800,000 gallons of water. Using the latest EPA carbon equivalents, that amounts to 490 tons of carbon dioxide produced per year per restaurant
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  • A typical restaurant generates 100,000 pounds of garbage per location per year, the Green Restaurant Association estimates.
  • the industry is responding to criticism and to new awareness that restaurants can save serious money by taking small steps:
  • "Everything that comes out of a restaurant could either be recycled or composted,"
  • "Yet, most restaurants don't do a good job of either."
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    The National Restaurant Association has implemented a new "green" restaurant initiative to persuade owners of the US's 945,000 restaurants to adopt measures to control energy use and waste. They have some celebrity firepower in billionaire Ted Turner, who owns Ted's Montana Grill causal dining chain. His restaurants use straws made from biodegradable paper, and the menus are printed on recycled paper, among other initiatives. The NRA makes recommendations like using LED lights, composting, installing low-flow valves, and using recycled materials. In practical terms, however, going green doesn't necessarily mean "making green." In a tough economy, most people won't pay for the extra costs of green initiatives. In a poll, just 29% of consumers said they would be more likely to go to a green restaurant. Those numbers make it difficult to convince a restaurateur to make that extra investment. 
Yaping Li

Green Business Initiative - Environmental Protection Agency, Ireland - 0 views

shared by Yaping Li on 22 Sep 12 - No Cached
  • The Green Business Initiative is an inter-linked suite of projects, specifically aimed at helping enterprises save money and help to reduce their environmental impacts.
  • The projects aim to actively help enterprises to become more “resource efficient”. This means that they will use less energy, less water and less raw materials, in turn producing less waste and costing the business less money. It’s a great example of the Green Economy in action and a real win-win situation. 
  • The Green Hospitality Programme (GHP) is a range of projects specifically aimed at the tourism and hospitality industry. 
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  • Utilising the capacity and techniques perfected in the Green Hospitality Award and greenbusiness.ie project, the National Waste Prevention Programme is working with healthcare providers to look at water and energy use and waste production, with a special emphasis on food waste. By investigating areas where efficiencies can be made, often through simple "no" and low cost procedures, real savings can be generated for hospitals.
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    This article introduces some green business initiative that is the projects to help enterprises use less resource to make money. With the development of the society, it is more important for us to protect the environment. The green business initiative is a good example to protect the environment. The article shows the greenbusiness.ie project offer an effective tool to help the company not only reduce the cost but also reduce the pollution. It also introduce the project that aimed to help hospitality industry solve the save resource problem. It list some projects like Green Festivals, Less Food Waste, More Profit to prove these program already save more money and resource. The Green Healthcare and SMILE (Saving Money through Industrial Linkage and Exchanges) are the other two examples of green business initiative.
Hui Chen

Food Composting in Four Seasons Hotel - 1 views

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    This article shares with us the experience of food composting in Four Seasons Hotel.  It shows readers many facts to prove that  food composting in a hotel can be successful and beneficial. It also gives readers many tips about how to compost food scraps effectively in a hotel.
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    I enjoyed the article very much. I do believe that having a sustainable business is the wave of the future. Its about time that we start giving back to the earth what we take. Having a sustainable business, a LEED hotel, is beneficial to being a leader in the hotel industry.
ccpanther88

More hotels are going green, and it's not just to save water or money - Features | The ... - 0 views

  • The Intercontinental Los Angeles Century City Hotel is removing draping ivy plants from the balconies of all 361 rooms, replacing them with drought-tolerant succulents. The Courtyard by Marriott in Torrance tore out 81sq m of turf and flower beds, swapping them for native California grass to help cut water use by 15%.
  • With California in the worst drought in state history, some hotels have gone beyond
  • “It’s not a huge savings,” Steve Choe, general manager of the Intercontinental, said about dumping the ivy planters. “I think it’s about sending the right message.”
    • ccpanther88
       
      The ROI on the actual replacement of the plants may be minimal, but the value in the message (hopefully) has a trickle effect.
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  • Nearly 60% of travellers say they plan to make eco-friendly choices when booking hotels, with half saying they would pay extra to stay at an environmentally friendly hotel, according to a 2012 survey by the travel website TripAdvisor.
  • The percentage of companies with travel booking policies that either require or recommend that a hotel adopt “sustainability” measures has jumped to 19% in the US, up from 11% in 2011, according to a new study by the Global Business Travel Association
  • Bathrooms are the biggest drain, accounting for about 30% of hotel water use, followed by landscaping and laundry, each with 16%, and kitchens with 1%, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency. Typical water-saving measures can reduce operating costs at hotels by as much 11%, the EPA estimates.
  • The Bacara Resort & Spa in Santa Barbara drained its decorative fountains and planted succulents and agave plants in a large fountain near the entrance.
  • The Intercontinental Hotels Group plans next year to give all 4,700 of its hotels access to an online tool that lets managers track how much energy and water they are using. The group hopes to use the system to cut water use by 12% over the next three years in water-starved areas like California.
  • The Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel plans to install a system to recycle about 70% of the water used for its laundry operation.
  • The project will cost about US$96,000 (RM326,400), after water and gas rebates, according to hotel officials. Hotel officials expect the investment will pay for itself in 17 months
  • The Montecito Water District in Santa Barbara declared a water emergency in February and adopted penalties to force residents and businesses to cut overall water use by 30%.
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    The "Going Green" trend has been a true blessing since it's marketability took birth several years ago. Many industries are taking advantage of this technological and ecological trend. There has never been a better time than now to turn our business ethics into the direction of a better world. Basic utility expenses at any hotel or business can sometimes make or break their existence. Technology today has given us the tools to give back to both our beautiful Earth and our bottom dollar. Luxury brands and all the like are implementing new green policies and technologies that will cut costs and even beautiful their environments. By the end of 2015 The Intercontinental Hotels Group plans on equipping over 4,000 of their hotels with a system that monitors and assists in energy use and conservation. They have a goal of reducing their overall water use by 12% in California in part due to the severe ongoing drought. The Loews in Santa Monica Beach is investing $96,000 in a laundry-water recycling system. It will recycle nearly 70% of water use and pay for itself in less than 2 years. Apart from it's ability to cut-costs and truly give back to the environment, "going green" is highly marketable. One of the Intercontinental's General Managers was quoted saying "It's not a huge savings. I think it's about sending the right message." I have personally seen many RFPs from large corporate companies that request green-initiatives from hotels. Improving sustainability is important to the customer and the establishment. Around 60% of travelers consider green initiatives when selecting a destination and activity. Of those 60%, over half said they would even pay more to stay at an establishment that respected and helped improve the environment. In a world where we are fortunate enough to live in excess should we choose to, it's a shame it took this long for a global movement to "go green". Sustainability alone has built such a giant indu
markh283

Go Green Hotels - Green Ideas for Hotels - 0 views

  • Create a 'green team' at your hotel with the goal of continual improvement and scheduled re-evaluation and reporting.
  • Install a renewable energy system onsite (no cost options are available including, in the U.S., PACENation which provides low-cost, long-term financing for energy efficiency, water conservation and renewable energy projects) or switch to a certified renewable electricity provider.
  • Track energy, water and waste use monthly through an internal tracking system or through Energy Star Portfolio Manager (waste tracking feature).
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    This article has many ideas to incorporate "green" ideas into the physical plant structure of a hotel. For example, it suggests building your staff into a more "green" awareness. Also, it has several ideas on how to save energy and reduce. Additionally, it has numerous suggestions on building maintenance. For example, using the Energy Star Portfolio Manager will aid in waste tracking.
vickychapas2021

10 Things You Should Know About Recycling Electronics - 1 views

  • The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that only 15 to 20 percent of e-waste is recycled,
  • the rest of these electronics go directly into landfills, incinerators and are illegally exported to developing countries
  • These foreign junkyards hire low-wage employees to pick through the few valuable components of often toxic old machines.
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  • The E-cycling Central website allows users to select their state and city to find a trusted recycler nearest them.
  • Reuse is always more environmentally sound and will give devices an extra couple years of usability.
  • One is called the e-Stewards Standard for Responsible Recycling and Reuse of Electronic Equipment, known as e-Stewards, and the other is called Responsible Recycling (R2) Practices, known as R2.
  • If an electronics recycler has either one of these certifications they are typically more trustworthy than a recycler without one.
  • With that being said, it is best to recycle your electronics as soon as you know you are done using them.
  • Before you recycle or donate your computer or cell phone, be sure to erase your data from the device.
  • CRT TV’s, printers, cartridges and many large home appliances are dangerous to recycle, so consumers should expect to pay a small fee to recycle them.
  • Don’t throw nickel cadmium batteries in the garbage! They’re made from poisonous materials that can harm the environment—and they also need to be recycled.
  • cell phone batteries can be used to make new smartphones and batteries, while zinc and aluminum from laptops and tablets can be used for metal plates, jewelry, cars or art.
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    This article explains what e-waste is and how we as consumers can help recycle our e-waste. We should recycle products we know we won't use anymore because technology depreciates. When we decide to recycle our e-waste we should ensure that they are reputable. Throwing certain things in the garbage is toxic to the environment and thus we should make sure to recycle all technology instead of tossing it into the landfill.
swhit149

What is Green Computing? - Definition from Techopedia - 0 views

  • Green computing is the environmentally responsible and eco-friendly use of computers and their resources.
  • study of designing, engineering, manufacturing, using and disposing of computing devices in a way that reduces their environmental impact.
  • reen computing practices came into prominence in 1992, when the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) launched the Energy Star program.
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  • green information technology (green IT).
  • attain economic viability and improve the way computing devices are used.
  • Green use
  • Green disposal
  • Green design
  • Green manufacturing:
  • authorities also actively work to promote green computing concepts by introducing several voluntary programs and regulations for their enforcement.
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    This article discusses what Green Computing is and how it is being used. This environmental friendly resource should be the future on how we preserve used technology. Everyone should be more aware on how to promote green computing to make this world a much sustainable place.
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