Earth Day 2010: How Geeks Can Help Save the World

April 22, 2010 - By Justin E. Gehrke

As we celebrate the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, geeks have reason to feel at least a bit ashamed. We have celebrated the huge leaps and bounds in technology and how we use it for years. Unfortunately, we have been shortsighted in planning how we’ll handle our discarded computers, cell phones, etc.

How has this happened? It seems that every few months, a newer, faster, and better gadget, computer, or other piece of hardware is released that makes geeks around the world want to ditch whatever they are using, in order to replace it with the new one. This has been most prevalent in the PC industry.

First we were amazed and content with Intel Pentium 4 processors. Processors continued to evolve, though, and eventually reached what is generally the standard today, the dual core processor. Even now, we see quad core processors on the cusp of becoming the new norm, before dual core had a chance to even get old! Unfortunately, the reality of computing is that older processors do not age like wine. In their case, they have to be sent out to pasture along with the rest of the old PCs. This is especially true when we look at the evolution of operating systems from Windows NT up through Windows 7. We are reminded that, for each potential gain in speed and performance, there is an equal need for newer and better hardware to support it.

While all of this technological greatness has allowed us to “compute like we’ve never computed before”, it has done little to help other aspects of our world…namely, the big blue planet on which we live.

While computers continued to evolve, the “Green IT” trend began to quietly develop right along side. Seemingly a cottage industry at first, with a few companies promoting specialized products to help us consume less while computing more, it has since expanded into a full-fledged movement with its own tagline. As a result, the last decade (or more specifically, the last four to five years) also saw a sharp rise in concern about what to do with the leftovers.

For every new PC a user buys, there is an old one that will probably be discarded. While manufacturers may be making hardware components that are, in their singularity, less damaging to the landfill, this does little to actually solve the problem.

Understanding this concept requires only basic logic skills, using the following scenario:

Company A and B make hardware components for Company C’s PC. Company C sells 90% of its PCs with Company D’s operating system. Company D releases a new operating system every 3-4 years. Prior to the early 2000′s, Company D’s new operating systems did not involve significantly increased hardware requirements, so most consumers could simply install the new operating system on the old PC. Over the last decade, though, Company D’s newest operating systems have regularly required at least 25-50% more processing power than the previous version, in order to function optimally. Thusly, Company D now relies on Company C to ensure that Companies A and B produce components that will optimally support Company D’s new bells and whistles in a crowd-pleasing manner. As an additional assurance that users migrate, Company D stops providing support to the previously released operating system a couple of years after the release of their newest one. As a result and off to the side, Company’s E-Z, who all produce software that runs on Company D’s operating system, don’t worry if their newer versions are backwards compatible. In the end, Companies A, B, C, and D work cooperatively to ensure consumers continue to consume at a rate, which increases each company’s respective profit margin, on an annual basis.

What does this mean to the average person? Bottom Line: They will have to buy a new PC, at a minimum, quadrennially, in order to make sure they can actually use the internet, check email, network socially, and make documents and spreadsheets. Thusly, it does not really matter how “green” the PC and its components are, since the entire computer is going to be replaced up to twice as often as they were, when “non-green” parts were used.

We can see the disconnect between the “Think Green” and “Make Bigger, Stronger, Faster PCs” logic using basic common sense, basic math skills, in this theoretical scenario:

One million “non-green” components take 100 years to decompose in a landfill. In previous years, we can estimate that one million “non-green” computers were discarded in landfills, on an annual basis. One million “green” components take 50 years to decompose. Since the “green” components come in PCs that must be replaced at a 25-50% faster rate, this translates to an increase from one million “non-green” PCs to 1.25 to 1.50 million “green” PCs in landfills, from one year to the next. If the following year sees a similar rate of increase, we would be looking at additional 500,000 to 750,000 more old PCs in landfills. In the end, it will, indeed, be true that the components will decompose 50% faster. Unfortunately, the beneficial decrease is nullified by the 25-50% increase in discarded PCs, annually.

This example is far from scientific but the logic is infallible. It is the same logical relationship that applies to eating and insufficient exercise. If we increase our caloric intake by 25-50% annually but only increase our volume of exercise by 10%, we are likely (unless you have a Tapeworm or Super Hero Metabolism) to gain weight. Certainly, one can throw in some comments about outliers and the need for controlled study. Would this really change the overall truth? No, the bottom line is that we are generating more PC trash than the universe can degrade, at a rate that precludes the resulting accumulation from negatively affecting our lives and the lives of future generations.

So how can we transition from “Thinking Green” to “Acting Green”? In this case, geeks have a unique opportunity to actually turn a potential disadvantage into an advantage. All we need are a few brave and community-minded geeks. The people who generally throw away old computers are the same people who can afford to buy new ones.

What about those who cannot afford to replace their antiquated computers or who don’t even have one? Is there a way we can “recycle” our old computers and help those less fortunate? The actual giving part is easy, but we have to remember our original problem about outdated hardware that cannot support newer operating systems. Will someone want or be able to use a computer that cannot even support browsing? What about licensing issues with operating systems and office software (e.g. word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, etc.)?

Enter Ubuntu Linux. It takes little memory and processing power to operate efficiently. It comes bundled with OpenOffice (the pro-bono version of Microsoft Office) and is automatically linked into the open source repository where one can find GNU games, productivity applications, security tools, and more. Best of all, Ubuntu Linux is free for home use. While it is not the only version of Linux that is free, it is one of the most well-known and user friendly. As long as we’re not going to install it in a business environment, there are no licensing costs. That’s right. Zero!

So now we have an older computer that, if formatted with a less process intensive operating system, can last 2-3 more years. We have access to Ubuntu Linux as a free download with installation guides. We have the comprehensive OpenOffice application that will let users perform office functions like a professional. What do we do now? Obviously, the standard computer user cannot install and configure an operating system they have never even heard of, much less used.

This is where a geek becomes a super hero. The equation is an easy one:

Old Computer + Ubuntu Linux + OpenOffice + Geek Super-Hero = A Win for the Environment and the Less Fortunate

To be part of this equation, one doesn’t have to obtain financial backing or establish a charitable organization. All that is required is for individual geeks to say, “Hey, are you going to throw that computer away? Do you mind if I take it off your hands to reformat it and give to someone in need?” If they say yes, say,”Thank you,” and get on to helping the environment and mankind.

Don’t know of a specific individual or family who has lost their job, has a child for whom they can’t buy a computer to learn basic skills, or has just lost all of their belongings in a flood? Contact your local Rotary Club, Knights of Columbus, or any other charitable organization. More than likely, they will be able to provide you with someone or somewhere to donate it. Help is not limited to individuals or families, though. Keep in mind that there are also public libraries, budget-constricted schools, or a Boys and Girls Club that could probably use your help.

Ultimately, we, as self-professed, proud geeks, have a responsibility to help our fellow humans (not the robots) and the environment. We may not be a large corporation or independently wealthy, but we can make a difference.

By taking the time to be part of the solution and volunteering a couple of hours to show the person, family, or organization how user-friendly Ubuntu Linux is, you may also qualify for Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credits toward certifications such as the CISSP, CISM, and other similar ones. It is truly a Win/Win situation for everyone.

So, act now. Make reviving and recycling old computers, as well as the encouragement of other geeks to do the same, one of your 2010 Earth Day resolutions.