Folding, carbon footprint, blah blah blah

[Thulsa Doom]

With all the stuff in recent years about Carbon footprint|apocalypse|global warming etc, I'm curious about Energy (& cost) of Folding vs It's Benefits.

I'm not an absolute 'Green' nut but I do think sometimes of how I can reduce energy consumption (which is why I sit on my butt most of the time).

Do you guys think it's more beneficial to increase energy usage and cost to perform protein folding (or whetever else it does), in the chance that a cure for illnesses (cancer etc) may be found, or better to reduce energy consumption by switching off PC's etc when not in use?

I'm for both (finding cure, saving energy), so can't decide which is better.

Also, Paper Towels or Warm Air dispensers ?

[Gone_Away]

Answer is to buy a windmill for your house to power your PC's

[BigFatCat]

Well, I appreciate the point, but then I don't recycle my glass or compost my kitchen waste. I do turn things off when not it use, have replaced all my lightbulbs with low energy ones, have bags-for-life in the car boot and my folding clients run on active machines here at work.

There's more I can do for the environment, and I could do less.

[Thulsa Doom]

Answer is to buy a windmill for your house to power your PC's

Heh, apparently the general consumer ones suck.

[DuVeL]

As the computers at work and especially mine (backup computer) and the server allways are on it doesn't matter that much to me.
My Shuttle is on at home and although it does cost a bit more probably for the electricity I reckon it's worth it.
There was a post a bit back about what it would cost if you leave it on but I can't seem to find it anymore...
 
For the rest, it seem that the poweruse in Europe is quit allright but that an American household uses 2-3x times more (not 100% sure).

[Zootoxin]

My answer to you question is don't believe everything you hear about these things and always check the other side of the arguement.

I have read alot of interesting stuff about natural temperature tends how the earth has been warming and cooler since forever!

There are also points of view why global warming scares are benefical for a host of reasons.

but thats just the 50p of the £

Warm Air dispensers spread disease don't they?

[Thulsa Doom]

My answer to you question is don't believe everything you hear about these things and always check the other side of the arguement.

Yup, I don't.
I'm curious what other peoples thoughts are

[Thulsa Doom]

There was a post a bit back about what it would cost if you leave it on but I can't seem to find it anymore...

Myself and Whitey did a quick check today of some monitors are a server:
19" CRT Monitor uses 97watts switched on, 7.3 in standby.
LCD (15 or 17, cant remember) uses 40 on, 0 in stdby.

Server (PIII Xeon 700mhz * 2, dual pwr supplies) was 30watts when switched off, avg 210 when on (and idling).

[delanvital]

Regarding co2 emission I tend to prefer researching in alternatives to present oil and gas instead of trying to reduce the use of it, if I had to choose one over the other. It is from a pessimistic view - we can struggle for years in EU to reduce emissions a bit only while China's and other countries go nuts with their plans for coal plants en masse.

So I favor letting my PC run to find cures for current diseases such as Parkinson's for the benefit of beings living presently and for their future kids (even though I also favor saving power, just don't see it as main priority) to ensure that type of quality of life, and instead put my effort in elsewhere.

Oh and paper towels ftw :devil:

[Dr Sadako]

Regarding co2 emission I tend to prefer researching in alternatives to present oil and gas instead of trying to reduce the use of it, if I had to choose one over the other. It is from a pessimistic view - we can struggle for years in EU to reduce emissions a bit only while China's and other countries go nuts with their plans for coal plants en masse.

Well we have been doing it for the last 100 years why shouldn't the Chinese be allowed to do it? I think it is important to lead by example in this case. The question is what WE can do about it. Complaining to the Chinese or Indians that they should not be allowed the same level of standards that we have is so off I don't know where to begin. What we need to do though is consider how we use the energy. We are now, for the first time, being more aware of how we use and produce the energy.
The biggest problem is that we have centralised power distribution systems in Europe and that is a waste of energy. If we had local and smaller energy production we could save energy and keep the same level of usage as we have today.
 
Irrespectively if you believe in global warming or not it is not a good idea to burn fossil fuels in respect to health of humans and animals.

[delanvital]

Well we have been doing it for the last 100 years why shouldn't the Chinese be allowed to do it? I think it is important to lead by example in this case. The question is what WE can do about it. Complaining to the Chinese or Indians that they should not be allowed the same level of standards that we have is so off I don't know where to begin. What we need to do though is consider how we use the energy. We are now, for the first time, being more aware of how we use and produce the energy.
The biggest problem is that we have centralised power distribution systems in Europe and that is a waste of energy. If we had local and smaller energy production we could save energy and keep the same level of usage as we have today.
 
Irrespectively if you believe in global warming or not it is not a good idea to burn fossil fuels in respect to health of humans and animals.

I agree with you that they are just as allowed. I do not complain to the Chinese. I am not disregarding facts of global warming etc. The approach of emission reduction is valid. It should be followed. I am being pragmatic. Looking at the context of today I believe it would take years upon years to reach acceptable levels of emissions - and then there would probably still be loads of emissions going on somewhere, someone exploiting an angle, someone finding a loop hole the list goes on and on... lobbyism.

I believe it to be more beneficiary to use more resources on developing alternative energy, than to try and persuade nations to reduce their emissions and reduce their profitability. I do not hail money making. Market mechanisms with good and bad sides and lobbyism is a fact of the day and tend to rule. I hate the US for drilling in nature parks. As a student I support environmental organisations in DK and I also vote green (in Danish terms). But I know why this **** is happening, how sad that may be.

I do agree that focus on energy efficiency is a valid cause, as mentioned. It is also worth following for several reasons. But when it comes to reducing the co2 impact I just believe market mechanisms rule. With oil finally going up, research in alternatives have increased and focus on energy efficiency comes into place. This is so, because alternatives are now more interesting from a money making perspective and whoever finds the right alternative to fossil fuels will.. make money.

[T-Bag]

Interesting you should say this. I'm fairly green, we have chickens, ducks and Geese for eggs (we don't live on a farm, just use our garden for animals). Use energy efficient light bulbs and recycle. We drive Diesels, which do more mpg, and we run on 100% waste vegetable oil. This reduces the emissions and is carbon neutral.
And having researched Wind, it's not worth getting a small one, you need a 15kW/h one charging batteries, and then it'd run the lights but would hate kettles.
So the answer is a diesel generator modified to run on veg oil, charging batteries twice a day, and running for peak times...washing machine & tumble dryer etc.

This would enable a carbon neutral house. I doubt you want to go to that much effort though. Offset your carbon by planting some trees in your garden.

[OldBloke]

I have absolutely no time whatsoever for the great global warming swindle (that would make a good name for a TV program. Damn. Too late. Already been done.).

[Sithvid]

95% of Britains own forests have been cleared, who are we to lecture others....hang on getting cold "turn up the heating love"