Las Vegas, Nevada - A recent report by the US government estimated that the server farms that power the internet in the US consume more than 3.3 billion dollars in energy every year. Another report by environmental advocate Zerofootprint estimated that the traditional practice of leaving computer screens on even when not using them consumes 60,000 megawatts an hour - double the total energy capacity of China's Three Gorges hydroelectric dam.
Now, factor in the huge toxic waste problems caused by the rapid obsolescence of most consumer devices, and it's clear that for all the energy we save by using modern technology to telecommute and shop online, our addiction to electronic gadgets represents a huge challenge to the environment.
But after decades of blithely ignoring the problem, there are encouraging signs that the electronics industry is starting to act.
Nowhere is this more apparent that at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, where a host of exhibitors are augmenting traditional electronics displays by touting everything from solar- powered laptop rechargers to recycled paper packaging.
Meanwhile, firms specializing in automating homes will display computerized systems intended to reduce the energy wasted in cooling, heating or lighting residences or by televisions and other entertainment electronics.
"Green is becoming a big part of why a connected home makes sense," said Mike Seamons, vice president at Exceptional Innovation LLC, which sells the Lifeware line of home-automation products to allow consumers to control heating, lighting and energy systems from a controller.
It's not only small companies that are backing green initiatives.
Panasonic, Sharp and Toshiba announced the formation of their Electronic Manufacturing Recycling Management consortium, (MRM) which will work with other electronics companies and state and local governments to keep outmoded electronic devices and their toxic components out of landfills.
Demonstrating a commitment to green ideas has become de rigeur in every press conference at the world's largest electronics trade show.
Panasonic is committed to reducing its carbon emissions," said Yoshi Yamada, chairman of Panasonic's US subsidiary. The commitment meant that the company's usual tag line, "Ideas for Life" now has to share the spotlight with a new slogan "Eco Ideas."
Sharp, which for years has been the world's top manufacturer of solar panels as well as one of the leading TV makers, was more concrete in its plans. Its latest TVs use 30 per cent less energy than previous models, it announced plans for a new solar-cell factory at its 9-billion-dollar manufacturing complex in Sakai City, Japan, and said that by 2010 its entire carbon footprint would be offset by energy-saving measures.
The green theme has been heavily touted for months by organizers of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), which claims to be the first trade show of its size to reduce its carbon footprint.
"We will do so by reducing energy consumption, increasing our recycling efforts, improving efficiency where possible and making strides toward offsetting our unavoidable emissions," says Gary Shapiro, the show's president and chief executive. "Consumer electronics are part of an energy-saving solution and improve the way we live, work and play."
The organizers even partnered with Carbonfund.org, the leading US provider of voluntary climate solutions, to offset the approximately 20,000 tons of carbon associated with the International CES by investing in a combination of certified renewable energy, reforestation and energy-efficiency projects. Organizers estimate that by offsetting CES and consolidating trips otherwise necessary for the same meetings, the net savings in travel is more than 1.1 million miles.
The show is debuting a TechZone dedicated to environmentally and economically sustainable technologies. Attendees will use biodegradable food containers, read literature printed on post- consumer recycled paper with soy ink and walk on recycled carpet.
