Conclusions
The purpose of this experiment is to investigate the efficiency of paper usage in comparison to other methods of communication, such as the use of recycled paper and electronic appliances. Due to the vast amount of energy required to use electronic appliances when looked at from a long-term perspective, this method is more efficient than that of paper usage. However, when looking at short-term effects, paper usage, more specifically recycled paper, is more efficient. In the short term, using paper that is recycled is more affordable than using electronics. With electronic usage, a large amount of new appliances would have to be purchased initially in order to prevent continuous spending in the future. For example, once a sufficient amount of laptops are purchased for all students and teachers in the school, new computers won’t have to be purchased as frequently as paper, which is now
bought by the thousands almost every semester. Although recycling paper is more efficient in the short term the paper must first be de-inked. This process requires the use of harmful substances such as copper, zinc, lead, and other metals. The amount of water also required in the production of the paper also demands heavily on our water supplies. For example, local lakes such as Lake Lavon in Garland, are rapidly depleting due to overuse. Even so, paper usage is more efficient for short periods of time because these effects are less costly than that of electronics.
The long-term effect of paper usage ultimately makes this form of communication less efficient than that of electronics. Over time, the repercussions of the use of paper on the environment will be apparent. A current problem in societies today is a lack of consideration for sustainability, or using global resources at a rate that allows natural
regeneration and minimizes damage to the environment. Until Garland as a city can create an effective method for replenishing trees at the rate that it consumes them, paper will become scarce, making this form of communication difficult for students and teachers in schools. The expected amount of energy used by laptops within an entire
school year is suspected to be about 146,556 kWh; whereas the amount used by paper resources is about 65,690 kWh. This however does not take into account the paper that teachers use on copy machines. Seeing as Garland High School has a relatively average number of students compared to Texas and all of the US, the values produced by the school can be used as a general representation of all high schools in Texas and the US. Therefore if each teacher at Garland High School uses about 1,000 sheets of paper in a copy machine per school year, the expected amount of energy used would increase by about 100,000 kWh bringing the amount to surpass that of electronic appliances. Regardless of the role energy plays in the efficiency of each resource, waste must also be taken into consideration. Recycling paper does expel unwanted contaminants. This is known as electronic waste (e-waste), a byproduct of computer production, which allows for the accumulation of toxins such as dioxins from the burning of PVC, the most hazardous carcinogens known today, and mercury, a common harmful substance. Taking into account the short term and long term effects of both paper, recycled paper, and electronic forms of communication, it can be assumed that although paper is a more effective resource for the immediate need, electronic appliances are more efficient for the extended view.
Evaluation
