Green+Wikipedia

=​​Green Wikipedia= The class will answer the following questions as a group, the information can be updated and improved. This will stop on Wednesday and next Friday I will give a quiz on this infomation. This infomation will also be on the exam.

1. List the green environmental features of the current Macbooks? This can be found on the Technology Communication Page

> *(I can tell you from experience with my MacBook that the battery does NOT last five years being that I've had mine for a little over a year and the battery is fried.) > Apple has minimized the waste when MacBook reaches end of life through its ultraefficient design and the use of recyclable materials such as high-grade polycarbonate, aluminum, and magnesium, which recyclers can reuse for other products. > If you live in the U.S., Apple offers a free recycling program for old computers and displays with the purchase of any new Mac.
 * Efficient power supply. MacBook includes a highly efficient power supply that reduces the amount of wasted power when converting AC current to DC current (needed for any electronic device).
 * Advanced power management. Unlike a lot of Windows-based PC systems, the MacBook uses energy-efficient hardware components that work hand in hand with the operating system to conserve power.
 * ENERGY STAR qualification. MacBook meets the stringent low power requirements set by the EPA, making it ENERGY STAR qualified. ENERGY STAR 5.0 sets significantly higher efficiency limits for power supplies and aggressive limits for the computer’s typical annual power consumption.
 * Fewer toxins. The greatest environmental challenge facing the computer industry today is the presence of arsenic, brominated flame retardants (BFRs), mercury, phthalates, and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) in products. Apple engineers have worked hard to eliminate BFRs and PVC from MacBook circuit boards, internal and external cables, connectors, insulators, adhesives, and more.2 And they’ve eliminated many other toxins that are a common part of notebook computer manufacturing — choosing, for example, mercury-free backlighting and arsenic-free glass for the MacBook display.
 * Lasts up to 5 years. The removable batteries in most notebooks are designed to be replaced every year or two, which means lots of batteries are used up and discarded. But the battery in the new MacBook lasts up to five years
 * Smaller boxes, fewer planes. New MacBook packaging is 53 percent smaller than that of the original MacBook and 20 percent smaller than that of its predecessor. And smaller boxes are much better for the planet. Because smaller boxes mean we can fit more boxes on each shipping pallet.
 * Recyclable materials.
 * Free recycling for your old computer.
 * EPEAT Gold rating. Through its innovative and environmentally friendly design, MacBook has earned the highest rating of EPEAT Gold4. The Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool, or EPEAT, evaluates the environmental impact of a product based on how recyclable it is, how much energy it uses, and how it’s designed and manufactured.
 * The new macbook runs on a quarter of the power of a single lightbulb.

2. a. Why are we finding so many cell phones are being produced and discarded. > Also when you are in a plan for a long enough time, phones are free to change to an upgraded one. Therefore why not upgrade to a better faster phone for free. > b. What can we do with our discarded cell phones? What can you do instead of discarded used cell phones > Obsolete phones are able to be refurbished and then resold. If this isn't an option, many parts of the cell phone can be removed and reused, which is environmentally friendly.
 * So many cell phones are being produced and discarded as people want newer, faster, and lighter phones which can last longer.
 * 130 million cell phones in the United States are discarded yearly but less than 5% are recycled. The amount of surplus cell phones is based on several facts such as;
 * __More subscribers:__ The decrease of size and cost of hardware has contributed to the growth of cell phone use. In the 80’s, retail for cell phones were several thousand dollars but were rather chunky things to carry around. Nowadays, technology has advanced to a stage in which these phones are small and thin enough to fit comfortably in a pocket.
 * __Number compatibility:__ It has become fairly easy to switch cell phone services because most allow you to keep the same number. It’s a lucrative prospect when you can get a new phone with better features. Through this process people change cell phone providers and discard their old phones, which continue to increase the amount of unused phones.
 * __GPS Accordance__: All cell phones that do not have GPS will be discarded. In 1999 the FCC adopted a policy called E911 (enhanced 911 service) which allows calls to 911 to be accurately traced. Service providers are required to implement GPS so that the police can locate the caller. Everyone had to oblige by December 31st in 2005. Now, all cell phones come with a GPS and those that don't will become surplus discards.
 * __Human Nature:__ Many of us want to have the newest and most improved gadget available so it only stands to reason that we will also drop our perfectly good current phones for the ones just introduced to the market. This produces surplus.

3. Name ways communication technology can help the environment? > Communication technology can help us spam emails to business companies about complaints of their process in making their products.
 * Ways communication technology can help the environment is by help spreading the word around the world about how technology is damaging the environment and how we could change this.
 * There are many ways communictaion technology helps the envirmont.some ofthe many are: creating awarness on the harmful affects of overusing and misplacing disposed electrical equipment, creating awarness on the alternate ways of disposing acidic batteries, educating people on the easy ways to search information without plagerizing.

4. Name ways the current communication technology practices are harming the environment
 * Some ways communication technogy is harming the envirmont is by the need for more computers wich use more energy enable for them to run faster.

Where Computers Go to Die videos
Watch the film about where computers go to die, on the environment ** **page and answer the following questions** **(since it is Youtube you must watch it at home).**
 * 

1.Where are the recycled computers ending up? India, in which the informal sectors end up performing nearly all of the recycling mostly in hazardous conditions. They also end up in China.

2. What are the environmental risks to the residents? They are exposed to the chemicals contained within the computers, such as mercury because they do not have the proper equipment.


 * Dangerous flame retardants:**
 * Damage growth
 * Damage reproductive system


 * Gas forming Hydrochloric Acid:**
 * Burns respiratory tissues
 * Damages eyes, skin and intestines


 * Diluted acid:**
 * Damages skin as they are scrubbing the boards


 * Lead coated broken glass:**
 * Kids may hurt themselves on broken glass
 * Lead will poison them

**Watch the second film and answer the following questions ?**

1. Where does the movie take place? East Deli

2. What are they inhaling? They are inhaling noxious fumes of hazardous heavy metals such as:
 * Lead
 * Mercury
 * Cadmium

3. What metals are present in the computers and how are they extracting them? Types of metals present in the computers are:
 * Copper
 * Silver
 * Gold

They are extracting these metals by:
 * Dipping in acids
 * Burning

4. What do they burn near the children’s school ground? They burn large piles of PVC coated wires a few times a month.

5. What do they do with computer batteries? What is the health problems with this practice? They are chopping the batteries up which contain lead and mercury.


 * Health problems:**
 * lead and mercury toxic to nervous systems
 * cadmium affects kidneys
 * organic chemicals affect the neurological system and hormone system.

6. Why are they sending this Ewaste to India and China, why are they not recycling it in the Us and Europe? They are sending it to China and India because of poverty, cheap labour, and corruption.

In US and Europe it costs: 20 Dollars In India it only costs: 2 Dollars

7. How are computer manufactures responsible for this problem? What can they do? They are responsible for using hazardous chemicals in their products. They can substitute the hazardous chemicals to safer ones

= XO Computer = 1. What is the price at the time of this video? How do they keep the prices low? Pricing was set to start at $ 188 in 2006, with a stated goal to reach the $100 mark in 2008 and the 50-dollar mark by 2010 [|[1]]. In actual implementation, prices have remained $199 each for both the winter (northern hemisphere) 2007 and winter 2008 [|Give One, Get One] campaigns (and thus $398 per pair).[|[2]]

2. What are the environmental improvements to this computer? Name the differences between this computer, and the ones that show up for recycling in India and China? The most important factor is that it uses a bio degradable battery and avoids the toxic chemicals. It also is built out of recyclable parts.  3. What are the energy requirements? What is the power consumption? How do they manage this? The XO laptop uses one watt while idling. It is able to be charged at a variety of different voltages, thus allowing it to be plugged in anywhere. The motherboard turns off when ti is not in use while the screen remains on as sunlight readable.

4. How is it powered where there is no electricity (there are a few mentioned throughout the video)? They can be powered by alternative technologies such as hand held solar panels, kinetic energy (pull-string generators, and clamp-on hand-crank generators. 5. What about repair, recycling and life span of the computer? It is able to last up to 5 years, is easily fixed and has a bio degradable battery.


 * Notes**
 * 1) **[|^]** []
 * 2) [|**^**] [|"One Laptop per Child: Ways to Give"] . [] . Retrieved 2009-06-14.