It’s hard to surf the Web this week without seeing news about Apple’s iPad tablet, which launches Saturday. And all the hype has us thinking: An electronic reader surely means less books (and less paper), but – is the iPad actually green? What about other “readers” like the Kindle, Amazon’s popular e-reader? Or Barnes and Noble’s Nook? Or the Sony Reader?
As this USA Today report shows, the answers to those questions aren’t 100% clear.
On one hand, high-tech devices let us use less paper – one of the actions Team Earth members can take to make a difference. According to a report from Cleantech Group, the U.S. book and newspaper industries harvested 125 million trees in 2008 alone.
On the other hand, devices such as the iPad and Kindle use power, often from fossil fuels. Many devices also rely on huge “farms” of computers that process users’ requests – and those computers also burn electricity, releasing harmful greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
Of course, getting an e-reader is only one way that bookworms and news junkies can cut their carbon footprints. For example:
- If you do get print newspapers and magazines, recycle them!
- Visit local libraries. They have books, magazines, journals, CDs, audiobooks … you name it. (Don’t know where to go? Find your library here.)
- Attend a book swap. They aren’t just environmentally friendly, they’re cheap! Your area probably has one, but if not, you can organize your own at work or in your neighborhood. Or use a site like BookMooch to find like-minded swappers.
Still, as cool as those ideas are, we’re aware that for some people, none of them will have the cachet of a cool new gizmo.
So we’re asking you: Will you get an iPad? Do you already have an e-reader? And are environmental considerations part of your decision-making process?
Read more about: climate change, e-readers, iPad, less paper, tips
