Reusing Personal Computer Devices – Good or Bad for the Environment?

Author(s)
Sahni, Sahil; Boustani, Avid; Gutowski, Timothy G.; Graves, Stephen C.
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Abstract
The energy saving potential of reusing / reselling personal computer (PC) devices was evaluated relative to the choice of buying new. Contrary to the common belief of reuse leading to energy savings, with the advent of more efficient laptops and liquid crystal displays (LCD), reuse of an old personal computer device can lead to relative energy expenditure. We found that in certain scenarios this expenditure could be as large as 300% of the lifecycle energy inventory for the new device. As a result, it is essential to assess the reuse of personal computer devices more critically, incorporating the different factors that influence the analysis as discussed below.
Date issued
2010-07
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/62242
Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Materials Science and Engineering; Sloan School of Management
Journal
IEEE International Symposium on Sustainable Systems and Technology (ISSST), 2010
Publisher
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Citation
Sahni, S. et al. “Reusing Personal Computer Devices - Good or Bad for the Environment?” Sustainable Systems and Technology (ISSST), 2010 IEEE International Symposium On. 2010. 1-6. ©2010 IEEE.
Version: Final published version
Other identifiers
INSPEC Accession Number: 11416398
ISBN
978-1-4244-7094-5
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