title: Energy intensity of computer manufacturing: hybrid assessment combining process and economic input-output methods.
abstract: The total energy and fossil fuels used in producing a desktop computer with 17-in. CRT monitor are estimated at 6400 megajoules (MJ) and 260 kg, respectively. This indicates that computer manufacturing is energy intensive: the ratio of fossil fuel use to product weight is 11, an order of magnitude larger than the factor of 1-2 for many other manufactured goods. This high energy intensity of manufacturing, combined with rapid turnover in computers, results in an annual life cycle energy burden that is surprisingly high: about 2600 MJ per year, 1.3 times that of a refrigerator. In contrast with many home appliances, life cycle energy use of a computer is dominated by production (81%) as opposed to operation (19%). Extension of usable lifespan (e.g. by reselling or upgrading) is thus a promising approach to mitigating energy impacts as well as other environmental burdens associated with manufacturing and disposal.
authors.affiliation: United Nations University, 53-70 Jingumae 5-chome, Shibuya-ku Tokyo, Japan. Williams@hq.unu.edu
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D003201:Computers / Q000191:economics*; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D017753:Ecosystem; D004777:Environment; D005579:Fossil Fuels / Q000191:economics*; D007221:Industry; D008420:Manufactured Materials / Q000191:economics*; D018803:Models, Economic
chemical_list: D005579:Fossil Fuels