More than 64m unnecessary emails are sent in Britain every day. Along with clogging up our inboxes they are also damaging the environment
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/shortcuts/2019/nov/26/pointless-emails-theyre-not-just-irritating-they-have-a-massive-carbon-footprint
1 de des. 2019
13 de set. 2019
CO2GLE
CO2GLE is a real-time, net-based installation that displays the amount of CO2 emitted on each second thanks to the global visits to Google.com.
What is the material impact of communications through the Internet? I often ask this question to my friends and colleagues, and I rarely get a reply. Indeed, almost nobody recalls that the Internet is made up of interconnected physical infrastructures which consume natural resources. How can such an evident fact become so blurred in the social imagination? This project was created from an urge to highlight the invisible connection between actions and consequences when using digital communications technologies.
40% of the Internet’s total carbon footprint may be attributed to the design of a web site. According to recent studies, Internet is responsible for the 2% of CO2 of global emissions, more than that of the aviation industry [1]. On average, the production of 1 kWh emits 544 gr. of CO2 [2]. It takes 13 kWh to transmit 1GB of information [3], the equivalent of 7,07 kg. of CO2. Following a study executed by CISCO, the estimated number of the annual global Internet data traffic in 2015 will go as far as 966 Exabytes (1.037.234.601.984GB) [4] and is expected to reach 1579,2 Exabytes by the end of 2018 [5].
Google.com is the most visited site on the Internet [6] and weighs nearly 2MB. The site processes an approximate average of 47000 requests every second [7], which represents an estimated amount of 500 kg of CO2 emissions per second.
Due to the complex set of actors involved in the configuration and operation of the Internet, it is impossible to determine the exact number of its CO2 emissions, so the data I present here is approximate. Therefore, CO2GLE acts as a symbolic agent which seeks to reveal the link between our actions and their material impact on the physical world, and aims at creating a mechanism that may trigger thoughts and actions that stimulate and re-appropriate subjectivity. I believe that this is an essential process in the generation of critical thought about the true nature of technology, and in the imagination of alternative techno-paradigms which may coherently respond to our environmental and human conditions.
What is the material impact of communications through the Internet? I often ask this question to my friends and colleagues, and I rarely get a reply. Indeed, almost nobody recalls that the Internet is made up of interconnected physical infrastructures which consume natural resources. How can such an evident fact become so blurred in the social imagination? This project was created from an urge to highlight the invisible connection between actions and consequences when using digital communications technologies.
40% of the Internet’s total carbon footprint may be attributed to the design of a web site. According to recent studies, Internet is responsible for the 2% of CO2 of global emissions, more than that of the aviation industry [1]. On average, the production of 1 kWh emits 544 gr. of CO2 [2]. It takes 13 kWh to transmit 1GB of information [3], the equivalent of 7,07 kg. of CO2. Following a study executed by CISCO, the estimated number of the annual global Internet data traffic in 2015 will go as far as 966 Exabytes (1.037.234.601.984GB) [4] and is expected to reach 1579,2 Exabytes by the end of 2018 [5].
Google.com is the most visited site on the Internet [6] and weighs nearly 2MB. The site processes an approximate average of 47000 requests every second [7], which represents an estimated amount of 500 kg of CO2 emissions per second.
Due to the complex set of actors involved in the configuration and operation of the Internet, it is impossible to determine the exact number of its CO2 emissions, so the data I present here is approximate. Therefore, CO2GLE acts as a symbolic agent which seeks to reveal the link between our actions and their material impact on the physical world, and aims at creating a mechanism that may trigger thoughts and actions that stimulate and re-appropriate subjectivity. I believe that this is an essential process in the generation of critical thought about the true nature of technology, and in the imagination of alternative techno-paradigms which may coherently respond to our environmental and human conditions.
[On average, this projects emits 0,037gr of CO2 per visit]
http://carbonfund.org/how-we-calculate/
HOW WE CALCULATE
RESIDENTIAL
Electricity
We calculate emissions from electricity generation based off figures from the EPA’s eGRID emission factors based on 2012 data published in 2015. On average, electricity sources emit 1.004 lbs CO2 per kWh (0.0004554 metric tons CO2 per kWh). State CO2 emissions per kWh may vary greatly in accordance with the amount of clean energy in the energy supply (Vermont: 0.00668 lbs/kWh; Wyoming: 2.041 lbs/kWh). (Source: EPA eGRID Summary Tables)
Natural Gas
There are 0.00548 metric tonnes of CO2 per 1 therm of natural gas. (Source: U.S. Department of Energy)
US avg.: In 2014, 67.2 million households used natural gas. Collectively, they used 5.1 billion cubic feet of natural gas annually, or 730.84 CCF (approximately 748.38 therms) per household or 283.27 CCF (approximately 290.07 therms) per person per household using natural gas. (Source: Energy Information Agency, US Census Bureau.)
Heating Oil
There are 10.15 kg of CO2 per gallon of home heating oil. (Source: US DOE 1605(b) Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Program.)
US average: In 2014, 3.8 billion gallons of heating oil were consumed by 7.7 million households resulting in an average of 493.9 gallons per household or 197.56 gallons per person per household using heating oil. (Source: DOE EIA Fuel Oil and Kerosene Sales 2014)
TRANSPORTATION
Vehicles
Unleaded gasoline emits 8.91 kg of CO2 per gallon. (Source: US DOE 1605(b) Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Program.)
Air Travel
CO2 emissions in air travel vary by length of flight, ranging from 0.227 kg CO2e per passenger mile to 0.137 kg CO2e per passenger mile, depending on the flight distance. Our calculator allows the user to take the issue of radiative forcing into account. (Sources: EPA Climate Leaders, table 8, page 4; For more information on air travel-related radiative forcing, please see this document.)*Assumes Coach Class, please contact us directly for business and first class emissions.
Rail Travel
The CO2 emissions for rail travel vary by distance of the trip. On average, commuter rail emits 0.162 kgs CO2e per passenger mile and subway trains emit 0.12 kgs CO2e per passenger mile, and long distance trains (i.e., intercity rail) emit 0.141 kgs CO2e per passenger mile (Source: EPA Climate Leaders, table 8, page 4). To ensure that our rail calculator fully covers your trip, we add 10% to the total mileage of your trip to account for potential detours, stop-overs, and other issues that may arise on your trip.
Bus Travel
On average, bus trips emit 0.059 kgs CO2e per passenger mile (Source: EPA Climate Leaders table 8, page 4). Road and transportation conditions vary in real life beyond what can be estimated. To ensure that our bus calculator fully covers your trip, we add 10% to the total mileage of your trip to account for potential traffic jams, detours, and pit-stops that may arise on your trip.
TOTAL US CO2-EQUIVALENT EMISSIONS
In 2014, US energy-related emissions totaled 6.87 billion metric tonnes CO2-equivalent. That figure is divided by the estimated US population in 2014 to yield CO2-equivalent per person. (Source: US Environmental Protection Agency /US Census Bureau) To ensure that estimated data fully compensates for an individual’s annual carbon footprint, we add 10% to these calculations.
HOSPITALITY
Meals
The average person’s diet contributes 2,545 kilograms CO2e to the atmosphere each year. By dividing by 365, it is deduced that the average person’s diet contributes, on average, 7 kg CO2e a day from their meals. This calculation is based on an average US, non-vegetarian diet. The emissions for food preparation are not included in this calculation. (Source: Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Average of Table 3).
Hotel Rooms
Emissions associated with a one night stay in a hotel room are calculated at 15.13 kg CO2 per room day for an average US-based hotel (budget through mid-scale). For upscale US-based hotels, that include restaurants, meal service and meeting space, emissions are calculated at 26.6 kg CO2 per room day. (Source:Environmental Protection Agency, CHP Potential in the Hotel and Casino Market Sectors, prepared by Energy and Environmental Analysis, Inc. for EPA.) More specific hotel room-night emissions can be calculated by property or location using the Cornell Hotel Sustainability Benchmarking (CHSB) study and this online hotel emissions calculator: http://www.hotelfootprints.org/benchmarking.
SHIPPING CALCULATOR
Carbonfund.org’s shipping calculator utilizes three user generated inputs to determine a unit called a ‘ton-mile’ (e.g. a US short ton of freight traveling 1 mile, or a half ton of freight traveling two miles, or 1/1000th of a ton traveling 1,000 miles… you get the point):
- Total number of shipments
- Avg Weight of Shipment (lbs)
- Avg Shipping Distance (mi)
Shipping Emissions Factors:
- Air cargo – 1.32 kg CO2e per Ton-Mile
- Truck – 0.202 kg CO2e per Ton-Mile
- Train – 0.0232 kg CO2e per Ton-Mile
- Sea freight – 0.0602 kg CO2e per Ton-Mile
(Source: EPA Climate Leaders)
CONVERSIONS
- 1 Renewable Energy Certificate = 1 Megawatt Hour (MWh) = 1,000 Kilowatt Hours (KWh)
- 1 Kilowatt Hour = 3,413 British Thermal Units (BTUs)
- 1 Metric Tonne = 2,204.6 Pounds
- 1 Pound = 0.00045 Metric Tonnes
- 1 Short Ton = 2,000 Pounds
- 1 Short Ton = 0.90719 Metric Tonnes
- 1 Therm = 100 Cubic Feet
- 1 CCF = Abbreviation for 100 Cubic Feet
- 1 CCF = 1.024 Therms
BUSINESS CALCULATOR
Office Emissions
All emissions factors in the “Office Emissions” category are based on annual (12 month) emissions. Emissions factors for energy (kWh) are based on state-based figures from the EPA eGRID
Natural Gas
There are 0.00548 metric tonnes of CO2 per 1 therm of natural gas. (Source: U.S. Department of Energy)
Electricity
Emissions factors for electricity by your monthly bill are based on state based figures from the EPA eGRID to get the state-by-state prices for energy, and the emissions factors are generated from the Department of Energy’s Energy Information Administration. On average, electricity sources emit 1.222 lbs CO2 per kWh. State CO2 emissions per kWh may vary greatly in accordance with the amount of clean energy in the energy supply (Vermont: 0.00668 lbs/kWh; Wyoming: 2.041lbs/kWh). (Source: (Source: EPA eGRID Summary Tables)
Heating Oil
There are 10.15 kg of CO2 per gallon of home heating oil (diesel fuel). (Source: US DOE 1605(b) Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Program.)
Propane
We calculate the emissions of propane to be 5.74 kg CO2 per gallon (source DOE EIA).
Building Type
Emissions factors by building type are calculated using assumptions from the DOE EIA. The figures provide the kWh used per sq foot of building type, then we multiply the energy needed for a particular space by state based emissions factors.
Number of Employees
Emissions factors calculated by number of employees is calculated with the average sqft needed per employees, 225 sqft (based on industry assumptions that a typical office will require between 175 – 250 sq ft per employee). We then calculate the total sqft by average emissions for office buildings by sqft (Source: Energy Star). Then we multiply the energy needed for the total space by state based emissions factors.
Servers
Server emissions are calculated assuming an average 251 watt server (source: Vertatique) with 95% up time. The energy usage of each server is then multiplied by state based emissions factors.
Fleet
Fleet emission calculations assume the national average of 25.2 mpg and the emissions factor of 19.4 lbs CO2 per gallon of gasoline consumed. Fleet emissions for delivery vans and trucks assume an average of 18.8 mpg. and the emissions factor of 22.2 lbs CO2 per gallon of diesel consumed. Fleet emissions big rigs assume an average of 5.4 mpg and the emissions factor of 22.2 lbs CO2 per gallon of diesel consumed. (Source: Transportation Data Energy Book 2015 – Quick Facts)
Employee Travel
All travel emissions factors sourced from EPA Climate Leaders.
- Short flights are calculated to be under 300 miles one-way with emissions of 0.227 kg CO2e per passenger mile
- Medium flights are calculated to be 300-2300 miles one-way, average 1500 miles, with emissions of 0.1374 kg CO2e per passenger mile
- Long flights are calculated to be > 2300 miles, average 3,000 miles one-way with emissions of 0.168 kg CO2e per passenger mile
- Train trips are calculated 0.162 kg CO2e per passenger mile
- Subway trips are calculated 0.12 kg CO2e per passenger mile
- Bus trips are calculated at 0.059 kg CO2e per passenger mile
Employee Commute
All emissions figures from EPA Climate Leaders.
- Commute by Car – assumes 0.36 kg CO2e of gas consumed per mile and a two way commute 245 days a year. (The kg CO2/vehicle mile average of both passenger car and light-duty truck.)
- Commute by Intercity Rail (Amtrak) – assumes a two way commute 245 days a year, with 0.141 kg CO2e emitted per mile.
- Commuter Rail – Assomes a two way commute 245 days a year, with 0.17 kg of CO2e emitted per mile.
- Commute by Transit (tram, subway) – assumes a two way commute 245 days a year, with 0.121 kg of CO2e emitted per mile.
1 de jul. 2019
Circular Ecology
http://www.circularecology.com/
Sustainability and sustainable development - What is sustainability and what is sustainable development?
Can I use the ICE database to sectors outside of construction?
A – Yes. The range of materials consumed within a building is vast. Hence many of the materials in the ICE database are relevant to a diverse range of sectors. An exception would be for electrical items. These specialist items are likely to have a large number of intricate components that are not covered by the ICE database. Electronic goods also tend to have high additional manufacturing energy (a brief analysis suggests that the embodied energy and carbon of electrical items is wide ranging and comparatively high). If electrical items are of interest Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) are becoming a valuable resource. EPDs are often available for download on manufacturers’ websites.
Sustainability and sustainable development - What is sustainability and what is sustainable development?
Can I use the ICE database to sectors outside of construction?
A – Yes. The range of materials consumed within a building is vast. Hence many of the materials in the ICE database are relevant to a diverse range of sectors. An exception would be for electrical items. These specialist items are likely to have a large number of intricate components that are not covered by the ICE database. Electronic goods also tend to have high additional manufacturing energy (a brief analysis suggests that the embodied energy and carbon of electrical items is wide ranging and comparatively high). If electrical items are of interest Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) are becoming a valuable resource. EPDs are often available for download on manufacturers’ websites.
27 de juny 2019
Ley 11/2018, de 28 de diciembre, por la que se modifica el Código de Comercio, el texto refundido de la Ley de Sociedades de Capital aprobado por el Real Decreto Legislativo 1/2010, de 2 de julio, y la Ley 22/2015, de 20 de julio, de Auditoría de Cuentas, en materia de información no financiera y diversidad.
4 de juny 2019
ISO 45001
https://www.iso.org/iso-45001-occupational-health-and-safety.html
ISO 45001 - Occupational health and safety
ISO has developed a standard that will help organizations to improve employee safety, reduce workplace risks and create better, safer working conditions, all over the world.
Over 7 600 people die each day from work-related accidents or diseases - that’s over 2.78 million every year*. The burden of occupational injuries and diseases is significant, both for employers and the wider economy, resulting in losses from early retirements, staff absence and rising insurance premiums.
The standard was developed by a committee of occupational health and safety experts, and follows other generic management system approaches such as ISO 14001 and ISO 9001. It will take into account other International Standards in this area such as OHSAS 18001, the International Labour Organization's ILO-OSH Guidelines, various national standards and the ILO's international labour standards and conventions.
https://www.iso.org/iso-14001-environmental-management.html
SO 14000 family - Environmental management
The ISO 14000 family of standards provides practical tools for companies and organizations of all kinds looking to manage their environmental responsibilities.
ISO 14001:2015 and its supporting standards such as ISO 14006:2011 focus on environmental systems to achieve this. The other standards in the family focus on specific approaches such as audits, communications, labelling and life cycle analysis, as well as environmental challenges such as climate change.
The ISO 14000 family of standards are developed by ISO Technical Committee ISO/TC 207 and its various subcommittees. For a full list of published standards in the series see their standards catalogue .
3 de maig 2019
24 d’abr. 2019
Click Clean: Is your favourite app powered by renewables or dirty energy?
https://www.greenpeace.org/international/act/click-clean/
Imagine if the data centres that drive our internet were powered by renewable energy, rather than dirty coal. If tech companies could be as innovative about the environment as they are about their products, the world would be a much cleaner, greener and smarter place
The IT sector already consumes an estimated 7% of global electricity. That’s why we need data centres and other digital infrastructure to become 100% renewably powered. By doing so, our increasing reliance on the internet can actually accelerate our transition to a renewably powered economy.
Imagine if the data centres that drive our internet were powered by renewable energy, rather than dirty coal. If tech companies could be as innovative about the environment as they are about their products, the world would be a much cleaner, greener and smarter place
The IT sector already consumes an estimated 7% of global electricity. That’s why we need data centres and other digital infrastructure to become 100% renewably powered. By doing so, our increasing reliance on the internet can actually accelerate our transition to a renewably powered economy.
Circular Business Models in the Mobile Phone Industry
https://norden.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:1153357/FULLTEXT02.pdf
The project objectives were to map out the extent to which more circular business
models are being adopted in the mobile phone and service industry, and identify how
this adoption can be accelerated. The focus was on models that extend the active
lifetimes of phones and their components.
models are being adopted in the mobile phone and service industry, and identify how
this adoption can be accelerated. The focus was on models that extend the active
lifetimes of phones and their components.
Circular Business Models in the Mobile Phone Industry
The final seminar in a project commissioned by the Nordic Council of Ministers to map out circular economy business models in the mobile phone sector in Nordic countries. The team has analysed the issue through in-depth interviews with stakeholders. As well as mapping out models, we’ve identified opportunities and obstacles to growth in circular business models represented by the current legal, economic and organisational framework conditions.
Come to the seminar and hear the results of the studies and participate in discussions on developing potential initiatives that can accelerate adoption of circular business models. There will also be opportunities for short case presentations by industry stakeholders including mobile phone brands, network service providers, mobile phone repairers/refurbishers and retailers. We welcome a range of participants including industry stakeholders, policy makers and consumer organisations!
Detailed programme (pdf)
Come to the seminar and hear the results of the studies and participate in discussions on developing potential initiatives that can accelerate adoption of circular business models. There will also be opportunities for short case presentations by industry stakeholders including mobile phone brands, network service providers, mobile phone repairers/refurbishers and retailers. We welcome a range of participants including industry stakeholders, policy makers and consumer organisations!
Detailed programme (pdf)
Closing the Loop FOR MOBILE PHONES
http://www.closingtheloop.eu/
Get started on circularity.
Combine unique marketing with societal benefits.
Your company uses mobile phones. We make this usage circular by offsetting your phones.
One phone you use, leads to one discarded phone being responsibly collected and recycled. One for One.
Our services turn your circular ambitions into tangible and audited results and an appealing story. Offsetting your phones makes your gadgets waste-free and material-neutral.
It works like this:
Get started on circularity.
Combine unique marketing with societal benefits.
Your company uses mobile phones. We make this usage circular by offsetting your phones.
One phone you use, leads to one discarded phone being responsibly collected and recycled. One for One.
Our services turn your circular ambitions into tangible and audited results and an appealing story. Offsetting your phones makes your gadgets waste-free and material-neutral.
It works like this:
- You buy a phone and want this purchase to be more sustainable;
- CTL charges you a fee of a few euros per phone;
- CTL uses that fee to pay its African partners for the collection of an end-of-life phone;
- This collection is done by local communities in the emerging world, in a safe way that is fully in line with international laws;
- If proper recycling is not possible locally, CTL ships the waste to certified facilities;
- The waste is then turned into reusable materials (urban mining), in a safe and clean way;
- You get great content, circular results and audited reporting on our approach.
Closing the Loop - Circular Economy for mobile phones (Ghana)
http://www.reinhardtsmit.com/projects/closing-loop-circular-economy-mobile-phones
Closing the Loop is a Netherlands-based organisation that creates a circular economy for mobile phones. In practise, they give good quality second hand mobile telephones a second life in Africa, but more importantly, they create a reverse-distribution system in less developed nations to collect mobile phones for recycling.
http://www.closingtheloop.eu/
Closing the Loop is a Netherlands-based organisation that creates a circular economy for mobile phones. In practise, they give good quality second hand mobile telephones a second life in Africa, but more importantly, they create a reverse-distribution system in less developed nations to collect mobile phones for recycling.
http://www.closingtheloop.eu/
Circular business models in the mobile phone industry
The Nordic Council of Ministers has published an extensive report on circular business models in the mobile phone industry in the Nordic countries, in which they identify opportunities and obstacles to growth in circular business models.
https://stateofgreen.com/en/partners/state-of-green/news/circular-business-models-in-the-mobile-phone-industry/
https://stateofgreen.com/en/partners/state-of-green/news/circular-business-models-in-the-mobile-phone-industry/
21 d’abr. 2019
11 Uses for Your Old Smartphone
Do you have an old smartphone lying around? Repurpose it! There are a number of ways you can reuse that old mobile device.
Contribute Your Phone to Science
As long your old smartphone still turns on, it's probably just about as powerful and capable as your late-90s desktop. So, why not "donate" some of those unused resources to a good cause? Currently just for Android, you can download the BOINC app (Google Play), which was developed by the University of Berkeley to harnesses your device's unused computing power for crowdsourced science.
You can help SETI@Home search for alien signals, use computational power for health and sustainability research with IBM's World Community Grid, assist Asteroids@home in trying to avoid the planet getting hit by an asteroid, and other such projects. Choose which project you want to help, hook it up to your local Wi-Fi, and help our species progress into the future!
As long your old smartphone still turns on, it's probably just about as powerful and capable as your late-90s desktop. So, why not "donate" some of those unused resources to a good cause? Currently just for Android, you can download the BOINC app (Google Play), which was developed by the University of Berkeley to harnesses your device's unused computing power for crowdsourced science.
You can help SETI@Home search for alien signals, use computational power for health and sustainability research with IBM's World Community Grid, assist Asteroids@home in trying to avoid the planet getting hit by an asteroid, and other such projects. Choose which project you want to help, hook it up to your local Wi-Fi, and help our species progress into the future!
20 d’abr. 2019
10 d’abr. 2019
9 d’abr. 2019
25 de març 2019
11 de març 2019
26 de febr. 2019
25 de febr. 2019
16 de febr. 2019
11 de febr. 2019
22 de gen. 2019
17 de gen. 2019
You can’t buy an ethical smartphone today
https://www.engadget.com/2018/02/06/ethical-smartphone-conscious-consumption/?guccounter=1
Conscious consumption is hard to apply to consumer electronics.
11 de gen. 2019
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