Green PC

Sitting in front of a computer screen all day, it's easy to feel separated from nature. But what millions of computer users don't know is that the work they do and the hardware they buy may be contributing to air and water pollution, global warming, the destruction of the ozone layer, and the solid waste crisis. For instance: the world's 115 million PC users produce millions of tons of waste paper every year, most of it contaminated by petroleum-based printer ink; seemingly harmless computers generate a variety of workplace pollutants, including potentially dangerous electromagnetic waves; and computer manufacturers create thousands of tons of highly toxic waste each year, making surrounding communities some of the most polluted on earth. So what can computer users do to lessen the impact of computing on our fragile planet? "The Green PC: Making Choices that Make a Difference" takes a look at how computing affects our environment and what computer users can do to reverse the growing problem of computer-generated pollution. This book is full of ecologically sound ideas from readers of Steven Anzovin's popular computer column, "Pathways".
Here are just a few of things PC users can do to get in on the act of green computing: support "green" computer manufacturers; squeeze more from existing hardware; create a virtually paperless office; reduce power consumption; reduce computer-generated pollutants; recycle PC hardware and supplies; use software that conserves time and resources; save energy by telecommuting. Anzovin also tells readers how to tap into online sources of environmental information and how to use their PCs as tools of environmental advocacy.