Comments on: Ebooks and Environmental Impact http://www.selfpublishingreview.com/blog/2009/02/11/ebooks-and-environmental-impact/ Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:00:18 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: anon http://www.selfpublishingreview.com/blog/2009/02/11/ebooks-and-environmental-impact/comment-page-1/#comment-244 anon Fri, 18 Dec 2009 14:10:17 +0000 http://www.selfpublishingreview.com/?p=907#comment-244 I don't think the environmental superiority of e-books (although I resent even calling them books) has ever been questioned. What many green publishing advocates don't seem to realize is that reading information on computer screens for a lengthy period of time causes health issues for many people, such as migraines and blurred vision. For these people, it is extremely inconvenient to use an e-book. I don’t think the environmental superiority of e-books (although I resent even calling them books) has ever been questioned. What many green publishing advocates don’t seem to realize is that reading information on computer screens for a lengthy period of time causes health issues for many people, such as migraines and blurred vision. For these people, it is extremely inconvenient to use an e-book.

]]> By: Why the eBook has potential « Kew Road http://www.selfpublishingreview.com/blog/2009/02/11/ebooks-and-environmental-impact/comment-page-1/#comment-237 Why the eBook has potential « Kew Road Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:57:43 +0000 http://www.selfpublishingreview.com/?p=907#comment-237 [...] last point and one that I know will interest the more eco-conscious of you – eBooks are environmentally friendly when compared to the long-term carbon footprint of its printed [...] [...] last point and one that I know will interest the more eco-conscious of you – eBooks are environmentally friendly when compared to the long-term carbon footprint of its printed [...]

]]> By: Are ebooks really more environmentally friendly? | Brad’s Reader http://www.selfpublishingreview.com/blog/2009/02/11/ebooks-and-environmental-impact/comment-page-1/#comment-240 Are ebooks really more environmentally friendly? | Brad’s Reader Tue, 14 Jul 2009 01:01:39 +0000 http://www.selfpublishingreview.com/?p=907#comment-240 [...] then there’s this article Ebooks and Environmental Impact over at the Self-Publishing Review: On Salon, there’s a highly technical summary of the amount of [...] [...] then there’s this article Ebooks and Environmental Impact over at the Self-Publishing Review: On Salon, there’s a highly technical summary of the amount of [...]

]]> By: Keith Rowley http://www.selfpublishingreview.com/blog/2009/02/11/ebooks-and-environmental-impact/comment-page-1/#comment-236 Keith Rowley Wed, 11 Feb 2009 17:30:17 +0000 http://www.selfpublishingreview.com/?p=907#comment-236 Interesting figures which I cannot dispute as you have done the research and I haven't. The equation is not complete though without an environmental impact assessment on the production of electronics and batteries. Electronics is a little cleaner since lead based solder was abolished (except for military products), but printed circuit boards used to be (still are?) replete with CFCs and toxins. Semiconductors often contain highly toxic elements such as molybdenum and the disposal of televisions, cell phones and the whole plethora of electronic devices is causing environmental poisoning. Also, of course gold and other metals are used extensively in electronics, and mining in some instances causes massive pollution, as when cyanide is used in processing gold. Add then we have plastics that won't break down for millennia and which also poison our earth. As I said, I'm not disputing your figures, but we do need to balance the equation with an assessment of the impact of electronic goods which possibly pose a greater threat than paper. More numbers are needed! Interesting figures which I cannot dispute as you have done the research and I haven’t. The equation is not complete though without an environmental impact assessment on the production of electronics and batteries. Electronics is a little cleaner since lead based solder was abolished (except for military products), but printed circuit boards used to be (still are?) replete with CFCs and toxins. Semiconductors often contain highly toxic elements such as molybdenum and the disposal of televisions, cell phones and the whole plethora of electronic devices is causing environmental poisoning. Also, of course gold and other metals are used extensively in electronics, and mining in some instances causes massive pollution, as when cyanide is used in processing gold. Add then we have plastics that won’t break down for millennia and which also poison our earth.

As I said, I’m not disputing your figures, but we do need to balance the equation with an assessment of the impact of electronic goods which possibly pose a greater threat than paper. More numbers are needed!

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