Issues and Impacts Environmental

Give three environmental impacts of the manufacture of computer systems

1. Requires non-renewable raw materials, e.g. palladium and rare earth metals
2. Requires a lot of energy to process these metals
3. Systems are designed to be difficult to repair and to have a short replacement cycle

Give two ways in which the running of computer systems can impact the environment

1. Computers use large amounts of electricity
2. Data centers use large amounts of energy to power servers and large amounts of water to run cooling systems. Companies often use evaporative cooling as it uses more cheaper water than expensive electricity. However, this large amounts of water is used in arid areas, further harming drought-stricken communities.

Give three ways in which computer companies can reduce damage to the environment

1. Use renewable sources of energy
2. Make devices easier to repair
3. Continue support for older devices

Give three ways in which users of computers can reduce damage to the environment

1. Change power consumption settings
and power off devices, turn off
Bluetooth/Wi-Fi when not in use
2. Buy second-hand devices

Give two environmental impacts of the disposal of redundant
technology

1. Toxic metals in technology such as arsenic can pollute groundwater when they become waste
2. Only a small fraction of waste is recycled

State two ways in which manufacturers of computer systems can reduce
their impact on the environment

1. Use renewable sources of energy
2. Make devices easier to repair
3. Continue support for older devices

State two ways in which the disposal of mobile phones in landfill sites
can pose a threat to the environment

1. Improper disposal can contaminate soil, risking crops absorbing toxins, damaging farmland productivity
2. 1. Toxic metals in technology such as arsenic can pollute groundwater when they become waste