Are e-books really environmentally friendly?
By snam23
@snam23 (3157)
United States
February 27, 2009 8:26am CST
I mean think about it. Sure, we are using less paper and therefore saving trees. But we have to use energy to read from an electronic device. That device will be powered by batteries, which last time I checked weren't the most environmentally friendly energy source, or by electrical outlet which is powered by electricity generate from burning fossil fuels. So that leads me back to my question. Are e-books really environmentally friendly? Why or why not? Share your opinions and thoughts.
2 people like this
5 responses
@snam23 (3157)
• United States
27 Feb 09
Yes, one would think an electronic book is safer, but that couldn't be farther from the truth. A virus could delete every e-book in the world. What then? I'm sure there will be improvements as ebooks become more commonplace. I think many people still prefer the paper books like I do.
2 people like this
Happy mylotting!
@zweeb82 (5652)
• Malaysia
28 Feb 09
To me, all I can say is I still prefer the normal books compared to e-books as they are less glaring to read? Haha
Only for research purposes or reference the e-book has a search function which is convenient. As for the environmentally friendly part - I think sometimes all these stuff are really redundant. They tell to use paper bags instead of plastic bags, but does not one have to chop down trees to produce paper bags? So tell me where's the logic. Many of these things are sometimes just used as business gimmicks to sell one's product? Like the guy who's selling both the spear & shield story in the Chinese saying? You might have heard of that
Only for research purposes or reference the e-book has a search function which is convenient. As for the environmentally friendly part - I think sometimes all these stuff are really redundant. They tell to use paper bags instead of plastic bags, but does not one have to chop down trees to produce paper bags? So tell me where's the logic. Many of these things are sometimes just used as business gimmicks to sell one's product? Like the guy who's selling both the spear & shield story in the Chinese saying? You might have heard of that
@zweeb82 (5652)
• Malaysia
28 Feb 09
I've never heard of the Kindle e-Reader until now. Thanks for the info update
Well, I don't think I have any link or story as I just figured the paper & cutting down trees part on my own. Just common sense. The issue is not about cutting down trees as trees can always be replanted but it's just about people taking responsibility of their actions!~
Well, I don't think I have any link or story as I just figured the paper & cutting down trees part on my own. Just common sense. The issue is not about cutting down trees as trees can always be replanted but it's just about people taking responsibility of their actions!~@snam23 (3157)
• United States
28 Feb 09
Really? It's on the front page of amazon.com They just released the new Kindle 2. I was talking about the Chinese story. 
I figured out the cutting down trees on my own too as it is common sense. Trees do grow back and that is great but 1) it takes time, and 2)like you said, people do not always take responsibility for their actions.
I figured out the cutting down trees on my own too as it is common sense. Trees do grow back and that is great but 1) it takes time, and 2)like you said, people do not always take responsibility for their actions.1 person likes this
@snam23 (3157)
• United States
28 Feb 09
I'm with you all the way. I prefer traditional paper books over newer e-books. Yes, the search function is very useful but only for something like research as you have mentioned. About your comment on the environment issue, I agree with you there too! Look at this discussion between paper and plastic bags: http://www.mylot.com/w/discussions/1923643.aspx?p=1 Almost everyone stated that paper is more environmentally friendly than plastic, but you have to cut down the already diminishing forests and trees to make those paper bags.
Maybe businesses are just taking advantage of the current environment situation to sell new products like the Kindle which is an e-reader from Amazon. I've actually never heard of that story. Mind giving me a link or telling me a short version of it?
1 person likes this
@snam23 (3157)
• United States
28 Feb 09
Isn't the Amazon Kindle, not Sony? What I mean by using fossil fuel is that, we are still using electricity in e-readers to read e-books. One may not make much a difference but imagine a billion or more e-readers. We have to power them with batteries or AC adapters and then we will just be using more electricity, which we get from burning fossil fuels. If we do not find an alternative power source, then e-readers and e-books will just help us run out of energy faster.
@fren45 (894)
• Malaysia
28 Feb 09
As we can see today there is electronic ink device that use electronic ink like
sony kindle 1 and kindle 2.Both Of this device is using little electricity from the battery to power the black and white electronic ink screen.And talking about Electricity on the long run such device save the tree and fuel..
Don't you think so : 0
@wangyanping (53)
• China
27 Feb 09
it is diificult to say.eveything has its advantages and disadvantages.when we judge something,we should consider both sides.E-book is convinient to be taken along nowadays.most of us ,especially teenagers who want to follow the modern fashion,spend a lot of time on e-books,which contributes to the amounts of books.while ,on the other hand,overconcentrating on the e-books may slow down the speed of reading.anyhow it depends on you attitude towards it.
1 person likes this
