Are you one of those pseudo-worried human beings who only talk and show their concern about global warming and do nothing but sit idly? What are you thinking about? Identifying yourself with the type? Or going digital? If the answer is yes, then the only assurance in your favor is that, most of the people all over the world are like you. They are hypocrites just as you are; only pointing out the flaws of others ignoring their own flaws and more important, contributing nothing at all either to control this or to stop this. The minority, who try to do their bit, are not well aware of the reasons why the globe is becoming warm!
The misconception:
Many people think that cutting trees and using electronic devices that emit pollutants that are harmful towards the environment, are the only factors for global warming. So, they turn towards saving the green and going digital. Haven’t you noticed this?
Your important documents and emails broadcast the message below the mails – “Please consider the environment before printing this email.” Or you choose the online billing option to save a tree and you think, ah… I have done so much for my Earth by going paperless!” Right? But you have no idea how wrong you are!
The reality:
The virtual truth is that print media is destroying the environment by killing trees or by knocking down forests, acres after acres. The imposed alternative is using the digital media. It will not cut tress, so it is good for the Earth. However, have you ever thought where does the energy that is required to run these digital or electronic media come from? Surely there isn’t any supernatural force or heavenly body that is blessing from above and you are getting to know about the war between America and Iraq or how many Grand Slams did Roger Federer win! You can download your important documents from your expensive, high profile laptop, but how does it run? Of course, through electricity, again where does that come from? The answer is coal or fuel oil which is widely used around the world. We don’t even hesitate to go to the extent of removing a whole mountain top to acquire coal. Using these natural resources by disturbing the earth will do nothing but take away our safest haven from us, the day nature revolts against us.
Digital deforestation:
Did you know, every year the Earth requires 19,320,360,620 MW.h/Yr electricity that comes from burning coal. Approximately 7.99 billion tones of coal is burned every year, and the amount is increasing every year. By 2030 this amount will reach to 9.98 billion tones per year. The data centers that have become so popular nowadays, due to the immense popularity of digital media, are one of the most important factors for contributing towards global warming. This cloud computing technology not only involves data centers, but also telecom infrastructure and personal computers. 623 billion KW.h electricity is consumed by this industry every year, on an average. This damage is equal to the deforestation. The unseen fact is, according to the MIT researcher Timothy Gutowski, in the Low-Tech Magazine, that a flat screen television requires electricity to run for 1 hour, equal to the amount of energy required to produce 1 kilogram plastic or metal.
Non-digital marketing:
However, there are people who use Eco-friendly products, not for the sake of their Earth, but either for their own economic benefit, as these products cost less, or for their health benefits. A very tiny section of people, who are really bothered about the environment, think of going green. The companies like HP, Levi Strauss & Co. and Procter & Gamble have tried really hard for marketing to go green and save the earth.
HP’s Power to Change campaign focuses on encouraging the users for turning off the computers after use, whereas Procter & Gamble by their Turn to 30 campaigns encourages the users of their product Ariel, to wash clothes in 30 degree temperature to reduce the energy consumption. Even the huge data centers like FatCow uses wind energy for running their huge servers. If they can, why can’t you? If you are human, and have understood at least a bit of this, contribute your bit.
