Coffee, Google, & CO2
I was reading a Science and Technology article on my google homepage today (warning: it's in Spanish) that claims every two times you Google one of your burning questions, Google produces the same amount of CO2 in answering as is produced when heating up a cup of instant coffee. (This is not a knock against Google, whom I'd marry if it was a he.)
Google, in fact, was quick to point out that just the mere fact of having your computer connected to the Internet at all (whether you're Googling or busy cursing at Spider Solitaire) produces even *more* CO2 in the same amount of time as two Google searches. Given that there's 200 million Google searches in any given day--and a whole lot more of other 'net shenanigans going on whilst not Googling--that sounds like a helluva lot of C02.
Given the technologically addicted nature of the world at large (and myself in particular) however, I'm not sure what we can/will/should do about it...
Do the super-awesome benefits of internet technology outweigh the cost of environmental responsibility? Is it naive to think the general population would take time to unplug in an attempt to curb our rush toward a greenhouse effect backlash? *Is* there a risk of a greenhouse effect backlash, or is that claptrap anyway? If it is a real risk, is it far too late to avoid its effects by simply denying ourselves the freedom to Google?
Thoughts?
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3 comments:
Is this a spoof, E?
Sure sounds like claptrap to me.
A) Instant coffee sucks. Google searches do not. Ergo, the fact that they are equal in CO2 emission indicates to me that a Google search is a global warming bargain. You get a lot more for your carbon footprint.
Now, compare a Google search to a really good latte and we might have something to discuss.
B)Compared to the CO2 emissions associated with getting the same information the old-fashioned way (i.e., drive to library or bookstore to look up/buy information on paper--paper which required trees and plenty of CO2 to produce and ship), Googling and the Internet are undoubtedly a carbon footprint bargain.
My two cents. Spend them at will ;).
That's a really good point, Jackie.
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