The Story of Stuff is a short film looking at the linear journey of how materials become products and products become waste. Although the principles are well known by all eco warriors, the entertaining animation and clear presentation are a breakthrough in articulating these critical issues.

From start to finish it was excellent, but the bit that we enjoyed the most was when the government got on it’s hands and knees to polish the boots of the bloated corporation.

The Story of Stuff

Tags: ecoproducts, sustainability

I have just listened to it and I reckon it is one of the most interesting episodes they have done in a long time. I would recommend listening to the whole thing because they talk about many issues, including how the Energy Star rating for devices is actually a little unrealistic of everyday power consumption.

One of the best bits was when it was pointed out that computer companies and the US at large are obsessed with chasing short term goals. In order to have a sustainable computing industry it was said that 75 year plans must be made by the manufacturers. However, the closest any company has come to this is Intel with its 10 year plan for more energy efficient processors.

PCmag have just launched a new Green rating for their product reviews. I think that they are pioneering new ground in raising awareness at the consumer level. A great first step.

Technorati Tags: energy efficiency, energy star, green computing, green rating, Recycling

I personally take great pride in getting as much use as possible out of everything that I own. My personal best is 6.5 years for a PC. On the other hand, I think that the average American or British consumer is biased the complete other way; they are only too happy to upgrade as often as they can afford to.

I think that it is a great step forward that PCmag has started to raise this issue, but I am a little concerned that they didn’t mention one of the most important parts of the whole equation. I’m talking about “embodied energy”.

Embodied energy takes into account all the energy that is required to manufacture, distribute and dispose of the product. For example many computers are made from aluminum which doesn’t exactly grow on trees. In fact it comes from aluminum ore which has to be mined out of the ground (or recycled) and then smelted. All this requires a lot of energy which is got from burning fossil fuels.

When you start to think in this way, it’s shocking how much damage electronic devices are causing merely by them coming into existence. China has recently overtaken the US as the worlds largest polluter, and I don’t think it is any coincidence that they are also the largest manufacture of consumer electronics. Embodied energy is the invisible demon inside each and every new gadget.

Technorati Tags: green computing, recycle pc