Environmental impacts of IT hardware

Eric WilliamsUnited Nations University

The United Nations University (UNU)

• Think-tank for the UN system (not degree granting university)

• UNU Centre in Tokyo• Network of Research and

Training centers around the world.

• Topics:– Environment and Sustainable

Development– Peace and Governance

The world’s billionth personal computer was produced in 2002.

Computers have made life convenient…

But what about their impacts on the environment?

Big? Small? Well understood? Unknown?

Environmental impactsand IT hardware

1. Energy and material use

2. Possible long-term health effects on high-tech workers

3. Chemical emissions from factories

4. Exposures to toxic materials in equipment (e.g. lead, brominated flame retardants)

The Macro microchip

Average annual growth of global semiconductor industry is 16% per year

What are the environmental implications of this new industry? High-tech is often perceived = low impact.

Assessment of energy, chemicals and water use in production of a 32MB DRAM chip.

The 1.7 kg microchip

For 32MB DRAM chip:• Fossil fuels consumed in production =

1,200 grams• Fossil fuels consumed in use = 440 grams• Chemicals “destructively” consumed = 72

grams• Water use is 36,000 grams per chip.

Total fossil fuel and chemical use to produce 2-gram memory chip 1.7 kg

Source: Williams, Ayres, Heller (2002)

Entropy and energy use

Chip manufacture is extremely energy and chemicals intensive. Fossil fuels to make one chip is 600 times the weight of the chip. For automobile, figure is 1~2, aluminum can 4-5.

Why? Chip is extremely organized both at microscopic and mesoscopic scales. Reduction of entropy requires energy.

The 290 kg desktop computer

Total fossil fuels to produce a desktop computer with 17 inch CRT monitor = 290 kg, 14 times its weight

Total energy (production + operation) of a computer larger than a refrigerator.

Structure of energy very different: 83% is for production, 17% for operation. For refrigerator, production/operation is 12%/88%.

Source: Williams (2003)

Managing End-of-life computers: Resell, Upgrade, Recycle

Rapid obsolescence and increased adoption gives rise to e-waste problem (more on this in next presentation)

How to manage?

Evaluate waste management wisdom (3R’s) for computers:

• Resell – used computer to secondary users• Upgrade – replace processor, memory, hard disc• Recycle – disassemble computer, recover materials

(metals, glass, plastic)

Evaluate environmental effectiveness )E(EEEEEE E LCE RLLuseUpMMM 321 rrr

Source: Williams and Sasaki (2003)

Life cycle e ne rgy sav ings from 10% imple me ntation

0.0%

2.0%

4.0%

6.0%

8.0%

10.0%

Res ell Upgrade Recycle

Case: desktop computer, home use, base case

Electricity use of IT equipment

1999 Forbes article: “Dig More Coal: the PCs are coming” said computers and networks account for 10% of electricity use in US.

Seems to be overestimate, LBNL study showed 3%.

Hardware trends:

New processors ↑LCD screens ￬Standby modes ￬

Health impacts on semiconductor workers

• Hundreds of chemicals used, many toxic. Complex and changing mix;

• Possible increased incidence of cancers and birth defects;

• Some empirical work showed link between glycol ethers and miscarriage rates. Link to cancers not known (no major study done yet);

• Series of lawsuits filed against firms by workers (IBM, National Semiconductor) Major suit against IBM now proceeding to trial.

Chemical emissions

• Possible impacts from accidents and usual operation of plants

• 1980’s case of 1,1,1-trichloroethane leak in Silicon Valley: empirical work suggested increased birth defects in local communities.

• EHS practice of firms has no doubt improved. Good enough? No lawsuits have surfaced in 90’s

Exposure to toxic materials in equipment

• Two substances attract the most attention– Lead , in CRT monitors and circuit

boards– brominated flame retardants (e.g.

polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE)) in casings and circuit boards.

• “Precaution principle” concern has led to EU ban on lead and certain flame retardants in circuit boards from 2006. No scientific evidence yet.

Summing up

• Energy use is significant

(home computer ~ refrigerator)

• Health effects due from toxic chemical exposure (workers and nearby eco-systems) is possible, but still poorly understood.

• CRTs contain significant lead (~ 1kg).

More info: new bookTable of Contents

• Computers and the Environment—An Introduction

• Information Technology Products and the Environment

• Environmental Impacts in the Production of Personal Computers

• How the European Union’s WEEE Directive Will Change the Market for Electronic Equipment—Two Scenarios

• IBM’s Environmental Management of Product Aspects

• Environmental Management at Fujitsu Siemens Computers

• Energy Consumption and Personal Computers

• PCs and Consumers—A Look at Green Demand, Use, and Disposal

• Strategizing the End-of-life Handling of Personal Computers: Resell, Upgrade, Recycle

• Today’s Markets for Used PCs

• Recycling Personal Computers

• Operations of a Computer Equipment Resource Recovery Facility

• Managing PCs through Policy

Thank you!

More information:www.it-environment.org