Energy & Ecology: Turning Negative to Positive
Paper presents ways to improve the ecological impact of energy consumption and usage with examples from manufacturing and distribution.
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Authored By:
Charles E. Bauer, Ph.D., and Herbert J. Neuhaus, Ph.D.
TechLead Corporation, Portland, OR, USA
Summary
Energy generation and consumption dominate public awareness of global ecological impact. Ecologically responsible design and application of electronic systems rehabilitate perceptions of technology from wasteful and insensitive to conservative, green, and ecologically sound. Even more important than changing perceptions, electronics hold the potential to alleviate energy scarcity with minimal ecological impact.
This paper presents examples drawn from electronics manufacturing, alternative energy production and distribution, LED lighting, and hybrid and electric vehicles illustrating opportunities to enhance the image (and marketability) of the electronics industry and ways to substantially improve the ecological impact of energy consumption and usage.
Conclusions
The Green movement creates an opportunity for innovation and market penetration. While energy intensive, the ecological impact of semiconductor manufacturing may be offset by advanced features and efficient performance. In particular, innovative products reduce energy consumption through efficiency and recovery.
Moreover, disciplined product and manufacturing planning enables ecological sensitivity in terms of manufacturing, operations and recycling. Finally, electronics enable advanced alternative energy generation and distribution which holds the potential to relieve the scarcity of energy.
Electronics' tarnished ecological image can be rehabilitated which benefits business as well as our planet
Initially Published in the SMTA Proceedings
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