A new study out of the University of California, indicates that reading your newspaper electronically, rather than on paper, leaves a much smaller footprint on the environment.
Specifically, when compared to reading a newspaper, receiving the news on a PDA wirelessly results in the release of 32-140 times less CO2, several orders of magnitude less NOx and SOx, and the use of 26-67 times less water. Similarly, wireless teleconferencing results in 1-3 orders of magnitude lower CO2, NOx, and SO2 emissions than business travel.
These are impressive numbers, and if they are accurate, they portend the decline and demise of printed media, to be replaced by their electronic equivalents.
Related posts:
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
These studies should take electronic refuse into account, however. Laptops and other electronics, when thrown away improperly, can have a devastating environmental toll.
That demise has begun, for this and many other reasons as well.