[dfs3] Environmental impact assessments? [was: Re: write-up on computer installation at Miners' Hall]

[mark]

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Thanks David

I think this is interesting enough to start a new thread with it, I
hope you don't mind. Further notes below:

On 03/07/14 08:38, David Walland wrote:

> Surely the point is to do something useful for people, not to stick
> on a point of principle (good though that may be) and - at least in
> my case - have fun and learn at the same time (that rework station
> has me wondering if I can upsize the fixed (32MB) RAM on the old
> 1710CDS...)
> 
> So Mark, I'm not criticising you or anything, just suggesting that
> there are ways of increasing the power of what we do, and I'd
> *LOVE* to play, doing it.

Having fun is REALLY important and being able to up-cycle old gear is
something that there is a place for, clearly. And we definitely want
to do something useful for people, and the point of principle is not
to harm other people (and the planet) indirectly while doing so.

I'm wondering if there is a scientific method to answer the question,
"From an environmental point of view, what determines when is it a
good idea to use new components to upgrade a computer?"

*Transition Durham gurus, I'm looking at you...*

Some of the considerations are, debatably:

- - there are computers freely available that we can re-use without
upgrading

- - there are other computers which would need upgrading to be re-used,
otherwise will have to be recycled

- - some of the upgrade components are available in the waste stream,
others are in large warehouses in Guangdong but no longer manufactured

- - other components are currently manufactured and buying them
stimulates the market (i.e. more stuff gets manufactured from raw
materials - bad news in my book)

- - we want to maximise the utility of the machines we re-use

- - we want to minimise the harm caused by manufacture and shipping of stuff


Does someone know how to go about answering this kind of question?

Mark
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