Energy use: the most important environmental impact of electronic equipment?

Abstract

A large proportion of the environmental impact of electronic equipment occurs through energy consumption during the use phase of the equipment's life cycle. The importance of energy consumption is emphasized through a comparison of the amount of lead in a device's soldered electrical connections and the lead content of the coal needed to fuel a coal-burning power plant supplying the device's energy. The prospects for reducing energy consumption of electronic equipment are discussed. The example of an electronic alarm clock is examined in detail. Incentives for manufacturers to reduce energy consumption of their products are reviewed. Finally, the less direct, but sometimes more important, effects that electronic equipment can have on other types of energy use are addressed.<>