Green cold hard facts

I remember reading a book review a few months ago about this book now available in its entirety online gratis. The review sparked my interest because it gave real figures allowing you to make an informed opinon rather than relying on half-truths so common in the popular press.

One that caught my eye on p68 about leaving devices on standby. For example, plugging my cellphone charger in for an entire day is the environmental equivalent of just one second driving the car.

There are, of course, plenty of flying related bits too, giving you plenty of ammo to throw back at those self-righteous right-on green acquaintances.

H

quote:Originally posted by Howard Long
One that caught my eye on p68 about leaving devices on standby. For example, plugging my cellphone charger in for an entire day is the environmental equivalent of just one second driving the car.


While thatone small thing may be miniscule, two things always occur to me when I look at my house in a similar way - firstly, isn't it just good common sense to turn it off and secondly, it's not just the mobile charger is it, it's the TV (plus the one in the kitchen plus bedroom), the video, the DVD, the cinema system, the Freeview / Sky box, the WiFi, the powered USB hub or three, all the lights on timers, my printer (which I note with horror is very energy consumptive ...), the LCD displays, the docking station, a clock or three, etc. etc.

Small things, cumulatively, result in bigger things ... I always find the argument that if I do one small thing it won't change anything to be ignorant of what can be achieved!

quote:Originally posted by slinky09
Small things, cumulatively, result in bigger things ... I always find the argument that if I do one small thing it won't change anything to be ignorant of what can be achieved!


Agreed, although I did deliberately pick out that more extreme example. But I find it ever so slightly absurd that we might spend five minutes at a dinner party discussing switching our devices off rather than to standby, while being completely oblivious to the enormous elephant in the room: that of the impact that the half hour car journey made to get there!

Having a quantitative perspective allows everyone to make an informed decision, rather than the all too typical patronising mantra we seem to be bombarded with on a daily basis. I find the book quite an eye-opener.

Cheers, Howard

lol @ the earnest discussion about being green but ignoring the gas guzzling car outside and somehow that dosen't count in these conversations.

I have been challenged about my 2-3 long haul holiday flights per year 'all those gases' but I point out that that he also flies (though short haul but a larger number) AND he has a dirty big gas guzzling car )I dont drive) so he's not going to win that argument with me.

It is the small things that matter. Yes my phone charger will use very little power but I always unplug it and didn't that nice Mr O'Leary ban his staff from charging their phones at work on the basis that cumulativly they were costing him a fortune.

The green argument works for some people but not others. For some the 'your wasting money by leaving these things on' works better than the saving the planet one. This is especially so for many businesses - saving money comes before saving the planet (but the two arn't mutually exclusive).

I have bought one of those little plug on things that tell you how much electricity you are using on a particular device but its still in its box ....

quote:Originally posted by tontybear
It is the small things that matter. Yes my phone charger will use very little power but I always unplug it

You might not like this, but the author uses an interesting analogy to the unplugging of cellphone chargers as being akin to trying to save the Titanic by using a teaspoon to bail it out.

Crikey I'm starting to sound like a green apologist all of a sudden!

H

There were 2,200 + people on the Titanic. Thats a lot of teaspoons!

quote:Originally posted by tontybear
There were 2,200 + people on the Titanic. Thats a lot of teaspoons!


Fair point. And had all those in steerage had remembered to bring their own teaspoons, it could indeed have been saved. Those up front made do with stiff upper lip and their nascent silver spoons, and despite scooping ten to the dozen with pinkies in the air, sadly it was to no avail. Allegedly.

H