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Control-Alt-Recycle

Posted by michael on from the computers-go-out-tuesdays-in-the-blue-bags dept.

klevin writes "Grist magazine's running an article on what to look for when the old PC's running out of gas and you want to avoid trashing the environment even further. Their suggestions include: upgrade instead of replacing, go for LCD monitors instead of CRTs and, if replacing, reuse the old one as an MP3 server on your home network."

3 of 334 comments (clear)

  1. goodwill does it too by misterspo · · Score: 5, Informative

    goodwil has computer centers where they take your trash computers and build systems for the less privelidged...or..just the cheap for that matter. I've gone into their center to buy parts for my older machines before.

  2. Energy costs ARE factored in! by neonfrog · · Score: 5, Informative
    Probably 60% of posts will say that power munching dinosaur-machines are killing the planet, but that article actually said:

    "... released a ... report on the environmental impact of computers, from production through USE and disposal." (emPHAsis mine)

    A friend of mine just measured his power consumption on a 24/7 P166 MP3 server machine and concluded it costs 52.3 kwh/month ($6.14/month for him). Even if the monitor were constantly in use (~double the above numbers) he'd have to save $150 a year with NEW equipment (cost to make/buy + (cost to dispose x2) VS cost to run) to justify trashing the old. If he used a clever timer system so it was only on when needed, then he'd save lots more and REALLY have to work hard to justify new equipment.

    The math seems very in favor of careful reutilization in most cases. You have to have something really sucky to justify getting a new thing and THROWING OUT the old thing. The materials almost always cost more to deal with than the energy consumed for use, apparently.

    --

    I'm thinking about it, therefore I might be.

  3. Re:reusing by __aagctu1952 · · Score: 5, Informative

    Except running a PC, especially without a monitor, probably draws less power than the light bulbs in your apartment. The "300W" you see on PC power supplies is just the peak power they can produce - normal usage doesn't even draw close to that. And there's also the fact that if you live in a cold climate, none of that energy is really wasted during 3 out of 4 of the year's seasons (it doesn't matter if you heat your apartment with oil power, electric radiators, light bulbs or a computer - the total amount of energy required for heating will still be the same).