Linux Ecology-HOWTO

Werner Heuser

    <wehe[AT]tuxmobil.org >

Wade W. Hampton

    <whampton[AT]staffnet.com >

Copyright © 1999-2003 Werner Heuser

v1.0, 2003-11-23

The Ecology-HOWTO discusses ways Linux computers can be used as a means to protect our environment, by using its features to save power or paper. Since it does not require big hardware, Linux may be used with old computers to make their life cycle longer. Games may be used in environmental education and software is available to simulate ecological processes.

Table of Contents

Introduction

1. Objectives

2. Caveats

3. About the Document and the Authors

1. Reduction of Power Consumption

1.1. Advanced Power Management (APM/ACPI)

1.2. Power Management Unit - PMU (Apple PowerBook)

1.3. Turn Monitor off, use Keyboard LEDs

1.4. Screensavers

1.5. Energy Star Label

1.6. Miscellaneous Power Saving Techniques

2. Alternative Power Supplies - Sun, Wind, Water

3. Noise Reduction

3.1. Fan

3.2. Harddisk

3.3. Speakers

4. Saving Consumables (Paper, Ink, etc.)

4.1. Printing of Drafts / Multiple Pages on One Sheet of Paper

4.2. Double Sided Printing

4.3. Reading From the Monitor Instead From Paper

4.4. Other Techniques

5. Ecological Behaviour is Convenient

6. Recycling of Consumables (Paper, Printer Cartrigdes, CD, Floppies, Tapes)

7. Reduction of Radiation, Electro Magnetic Fields, Heat

8. Extending the Life Cycle of your Hardware

8.1. Recycling of Hardware

8.2. Other Techniques

8.3. Linux BadRAM Patch

8.4. Other Operating Systems

9. X10 - Home Automation System

10. Uninterruptable Power Supply - UPS

11. Games

12. Ecology Software (Simulation, Datacollection, Statistics, etc.)

12.1. Ecolab

12.2. OpenClassroom

12.3. Tierra

12.4. Linux in Environmental Research

12.5. SWARM

12.6. Climate-Dynamics

12.7. UNCERT

12.8. EcoTopia

13. Related Projects, Mailing Lists and Newsgroups

14. Credits

15. Revision History

A. Appendix A - Linux with Laptops

A.1. Ecological Comparisons of Computers

A.2. Battery

A.3. PCMCIA Card Services and Advanced Power Management

A.4. Power Saving Techniques

B. Appendix B - MP3-Hardware-Decoder at Parallel Port

C. Appendix C - Bibliography

D. Appendix D - Recommendations for Buying a New Computer

E. Appendix E - A New Environmentally Friendly Hardware Design

F. Appendix F - Computer Related Eco Labels

G. Appendix G - Other Operating Systems

G.1. DOS

G.2. Microsoft-Windows

H. Appendix H - URLs of Recylers