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Greening
IT Beyond Recycling
The development of a Green
Computer - one that contains no toxic waste, is relatively easy
to reuse or recycle - is a persistent dream for environmentally
aware IT developers.
Over the past 16 years, a number of computer manufacturers
have claimed one or more of their products to be more or less "green".
Some models have, indeed, secured one or more of the many energy
and environmental labels available on a world-wide basis.
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Taking place on 12th October, 2006 at the Cultivate
Centre, Temple Bar, Dublin, Greening IT - Beyond Recycling
is an all-day event exploring the greening of the Information
Technology sector - covering issues such as the digital divide,
computer recycling, eco design and featuring the launch of the
worlds first 'Green Computer'.
It is a ground-breaking event on reducing waste and maximising
energy efficiency in IT equipment. |
The Seminar and Workshops will explore
the viability of eco-design and reuse of computer equipment and
will outline the latest findings of the pioneering Project HEATSUN.
PROGRAMME
09.00-09.30 Registration
(Coffee will be available)
09.30-09.50 Introduction
to Project HEATSUN
John Singleton, Project Leader (Dublin City Council)
09.50-10.10
Bridging the Digital Divide in Dublin
Mary Fay, Manager (SwITch)
10.10-10.30 Developing
the Green Computer
Ann Galligan, Manager (Micro Pro)
10.30-10.40 - Questions and
Discussion
10.40-11.00 - Break
11.00-11.20 Environmental
Technologies in Ireland
Liam Curent (Enterprise Ireland)
11.20-11.40 Create Business,
not Waste: Global Perspectives of Green Product Development
Karsten Schischke (IZM-Fraunhofer Institute & StEP Initiative)
11.40-11.50
Questions and Discussion
11.50-13.00
Networking Lunch and Launch of the Green Computer
(Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government has
been invited)
13.00-14.30
Workshops
IAMECO Standards and Results
- led by Paul Maher (MicroPro)
Re-use
of IT in Bridging the Digital Divide
- led by Mary Fay, SwITch (Saving Waste IT Can Help)
Dublin
Development and Use of Life CycleAssesement Tools (DfAuto)
- led by Dr. Tom Roche (AMARTEC)
14.30-15.00
Break
15.00-15.30
Final Plenary Session (Panel discussion and conclusions)
Chair: John Singleton
For more information
on the seminar - or to register - Click
Here
Key Results of
Project HEATSUN (to December 2005)
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Setting up collection facilities for IT Waste
Local Authority Partners pioneered the setting up of collection
points for IT waste (5 to date) - creating an alternative to
landfill, stockpiling and illegal dumping of Waste IT. A system
for collecting, sorting and recycling this waste was also implemented.
Since August 2005, this function has been passed on to the official
Compliance Schemes set up under the new WEEE Regulations. |
Setting up a sustainable Social Economy Enterprise
to Reuse IT
SwITch (Saving Waste IT Can Help) is a Community Service Enterprise
set up by the project to provide employment and training for the
long-term unemployed in the repair and reuse of IT and provides
training to the community on computer applications.
SwITch was founded in 2003 and currently employs 9 people. SwITch
is also funded by Pobal under the Community Service Programme
Implementing the recycling of IT waste
As a result of the Project, 20,000 items of IT waste have been collected
by SwITch to date and sorted for recycling or reuse at its workshop
in Swords, Co. Dublin.
Promoting the Reuse of IT waste
To date, 63 reused or upgraded IT systems have been provided to
community and training projects and private individuals. A further
130 reusable units are held in storage pending allocation.
Promoting the Eco-Design of IT
Project HEATSUN has supported MicroPro (an Irish SME based in
Rathfarnham, Co. Dublin) in the development of a Green Computer
that will meet the requirements of the new EuP Directive and
the European Eco-Label. MicroPro is also funded by the Environment
Protection Agency under the Cleaner Greener Production Programme.
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For more information
on the seminar - or to register - Click
Here
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