Chapter 4 Birth of Setsuden-mushi (a profitmaking device) 4.2 Setsuden-mushi's Growth Expectations and Setbacks 4.2.6 Internet 4.2.6.3 Global Brain (1)
Next, starting with the May holidays, I consciously sent out my thoughts and stance on energy conservation in both Japanese and English on the g-brain email link site related to the environment issues, every other week for a few months. At the same time, I also sent out the same information by e-mail. At this time it had already been two years since I started the development of Setsuden-mushi.
The following is what I sent out via the Internet.
"Environmental conservation by saving standby power consumption of information devices (fax machines, computers, etc.)"
Today, thanks to the development of information devices, we can enjoy a lot of benefits. If you look around you, you will find devices always plugged in and consuming (wasting?) standby power. Yes, they are facsimile machines, computers, multi-function phones, ... etc.
According to the manufacturer's explanation, these devices are just boxes that cannot receive any information sent to them at any time if they are not turned on. Is this really so?
＊ Is it really necessary for information devices to consume standby power when they are not working?
＊ Isn't standby power consumption not only wasteful, but also shortens the life of the equipment by dissipating heat and energizing it?
＊ If we estimate the amount of standby power consumption, it amounts to 900 billion yen per year in Japan alone. Isn't this a waste of money?
＊ Isn't standby power consumption not only a huge waste of money, but also a cause of global environmental pollution?
＊ The number of nuclear power plants is increasing, but can we cope with this increase by saving electricity?
＊ Shouldn't Japan, as a resource-poor country, take the lead in saving energy?
＊ Isn't it possible to start energy conservation efforts at the citizen's level and implement them more with the support of the government?
＊ No one will be satisfied with just an idea. Isn't it possible to appeal for energy conservation both theoretically and practically with prototype devices?
＊ Don’t we take it for granted that we will have electricity anytime?
＊ If we switch off facsimile machines and computers, they will not be able to receive signals and will cause troubles to the other party. There may be times when we forget to turn them off. Is there any good way to solve these problems?
＊ If the power saving device itself needs power to cut standby power consumption, it will not truly save power. Is it possible to make a device that consumes no power?
Serially posted in English every Friday.
毎週金曜日に連載中
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