Benefits and impacts of IT applications: are e-commerce, telecommuting or e-learning good for the environment? Yves Loerincik, Swiss Institute of Technology, Lausanne World Summit on the Information Society, December 2003

What applications of ICT are good for the environment? What has to be taken into account? How to promote good practices and limit the environmental impact?

Buying software on-line Downloading music from the Internet Digital camera ….. Virtualisation

On-line phone book (470’000 tons a year) Public transport timetable On-line newspaper: what information are you looking for? Paperless office …… Dematerialisation

Thousands of tons Source: I. Wernick, J. Ausubel Paper consumption

e-services E-commerce E-banking Telework Telepresence ….. Telepresence = less travel?

e-commerce Save travel Save buildings Less stocks ….. Green buying?

More packaging Rapid delivery Access to other market Traffic jam …..

Telework Save travel Save buildings

Telework But: Do you have computers at home and at your office? Do you have two offices? What is the energy consumption of your house? Do you drive more, because you save time? What do you do with the spare time? …..

Intelligent cities Smart homes, e.g. heating Intelligent transport systems

Ressources management; Animals population management; Pollution control; Deforestation control; Etc… Environmental protection

-Economy for the city - Benefits for the environment - The monitoring system is just a tool - TELEMONITORING SYSTEM, MARTIGNY

Environmental information E-learning Environmental information Networks ….. But All kind of information one can’t force people….

Thank you for your attention: for more information