I've stumbled upon a couple of online discussions on the theme of programmers reducing their environmental impact. The answers tend to be: print less, shut down computers before leaving the office, use compact flourescent light bulbs. I find these suggestions akin to treating a shark bite with a bandaid.
Here's what bio-ethicist extraordinaire Peter Singer, recommends for people wanting to make a difference:
Reduce your greenhouse gas emissions. Use public transport, walk or ride a bike whenever you can. If you must drive, get a fuel-efficient car, perhaps a hybrid. And remember, factory farming is a wasteful form of production that requires a lot of fossil fuel, so eating fewer - or no - animal products will cut the amount of emissions for which you are responsible.I suspect that as a vegetarian programmer you could leave your monitor on 24 hours a day and print out every e-mail you get, and still have far less negative impact on the wider environment that your omnivore colleague who follows the bandaid tips above.


4 comments:
Hi Steve,
Very true for pointing out the carbon footprint of animal farming!
I was inspired by your post to make a response here:
http://blog.evolvedsoftwarestudios.com/2009/02/18/green-software-development/
Hope Poker CoPilot is going well.
Are you suggesting I to give up my 4x4 and motorcycles and stop eating meat ? That'll never happen :-)
So, are u vegetarian Steve??
Am I vegetarian? Indeed I am! I haven't eaten meat for almost seven years.
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