Go Paperless?

[colcifer]

Before you answer 'yes,' think about what like would be like without toilet paper.

[MJ5150]

I don't like it. A few hundred people just an hour or so west of where I live lost their jobs at paper mills since everyone is all excited and jazzed about going paperless.

-Mike

[MatticusMania]

I dont mind it for bills, as I hate receiving a bunch of mail thats just going to get thrown out, but there are times when paper is just necessary (or perhaps just more convenient).

[MJ5150]

Then again, I dig it since the company I work for specializes in EMR sales/support. My wife's business also is based on EMR consulting. So yeah...paperless FTW!

-Mike

[Gaius46]

Paper is wasteful. It takes up too much space and uses lots of energy to recycle.
I do as much electronically as possible.

[Carver]

Originally Posted by MJ5150

Then again, I dig it since the company I work for specializes in EMR sales/support. My wife's business also is based on EMR consulting. So yeah...paperless FTW!

-Mike

I've been using EMR at my office for over 2 years...I'll never go back.

[baalroo]

I check my mail about once a month, and there are usually only a couple of pieces of mail in there... and usually it's all "junkmail." I only use paper when it is a necessity from dealing with a person or company that still operates like it's the 90s, otherwise it's all paperless for me. (except for TP and napkins of course)

Oh, I still have a pull list for my comic books, but when DC goes digital in a few months that will cut that back substantially as well.

[MatticusMania]

Originally Posted by baalroo

I check my mail about once a month, and there are usually only a couple of pieces of mail in there... and usually it's all "junkmail." I only use paper when it is a necessity from dealing with a person or company that still operates like it's the 90s, otherwise it's all paperless for me. (except for TP and napkins of course)

Oh, I still have a pull list for my comic books, but when DC goes digital in a few months that will cut that back substantially as well.

I got a postcard in the mail a few weeks ago offering me a year-long subscription (12 issues) to Playboy magazine for just $12. So, of course I filled it out and sent it back in. I get the bill just yesterday $15.98 (shipping was added), and they want me to send them a check! In the 5 years Ive had a bank account Ive used, seriously, maybe 2 checks. Why cant I charge this on my Debit Card?

[Unrepresented]

Originally Posted by Gaius46

Paper is wasteful. It takes up too much space and uses lots of energy to recycle.
I do as much electronically as possible.

Because electronics don't require energy to use.

I'm largely paperless. I still get junk mail, but most accounts are online only.

[Longhair]

Actually, going paperless is more harmful to the environment cutting down trees.

The kindle, ipad, smart phone, etc. that was not around 10 years ago will be replaced by something else just like your personal computer, laptop, tv, hybrid car, etc. when it breaks. All those things will become Electronic Waste

I don't think that they teach this little fact in school anymore: Trees can be replaced after being cut down by planting a new tree

[L-A]

I found going paperless helps point out people who create paper documents but produce no actual work.

[Gaius46]

Originally Posted by Unrepresented

Because electronics don't require energy to use.

I'm largely paperless. I still get junk mail, but most accounts are online only.

Of course they do but my gut feeling is that the energy used to move several KB worth of electrons around is less than the energy needed to haul waste paper away from your home, recycle it, haul it to a printer, print on it, package it up in an envelope and then haul it back to your house.

I'm talking about incremental energy cost, which seems the most relevant metric since people are going to buy PCs for reasons other than, or in addition to, getting electronic bills.

[baalroo]

Originally Posted by Gaius46

Of course they do but my gut feeling is that the energy used to move several KB worth of electrons around is less than the energy needed to haul waste paper away from your home, recycle it, haul it to a printer, print on it, package it up in an envelope and then haul it back to your house.

I'm talking about incremental energy cost, which seems the most relevant metric since people are going to buy PCs for reasons other than, or in addition to, getting electronic bills.

exactly. I'm gonna have a home computer and a smartphone either way, so the comparison between the cost of the hardware vs the cost of paper isn't a valid one. The real comparison is the cost of the manufacture, distribution, and disposal of paper vs. the cost of the added electricity of checking accounts online, and in that sense I'm pretty sure that paperless saves a whole lot of energy, resources, etc.

[Unrepresented]

Originally Posted by Gaius46

Of course they do but my gut feeling is that the energy used to move several KB worth of electrons around is less than the energy needed to haul waste paper away from your home, recycle it, haul it to a printer, print on it, package it up in an envelope and then haul it back to your house.

I'm talking about incremental energy cost, which seems the most relevant metric since people are going to buy PCs for reasons other than, or in addition to, getting electronic bills.

Fair enough. I just found it odd to think of electronic items not requiring energy usage.

[spade2you]

Originally Posted by Carver

I've been using EMR at my office for over 2 years...I'll never go back.

My hospital will be going paperless in 2 years, I think.

[anonymous122511]

Originally Posted by Longhair

Actually, going paperless is more harmful to the environment cutting down trees.

The kindle, ipad, smart phone, etc. that was not around 10 years ago will be replaced by something else just like your personal computer, laptop, tv, hybrid car, etc. when it breaks. All those things will become Electronic Waste

I don't think that they teach this little fact in school anymore: Trees can be replaced after being cut down by planting a new tree

Not to mention that paper can be recycled and once it's manufactured, printed and delivered it doesn't require any more energy to use. Digital information requires running computers and they require more energy than you might suspect. If that energy isn't coming from hydro electric generators it's polluting. Unless you understand the system as a whole (and I don't pretend to) it's not easy to make decisions that make sense.

[iamlowsound]

I work for an engineering consulting firm, everything we do is put on paper.

lowsound

[()smoke()]

Originally Posted by jeff arddun

Not to mention that paper can be recycled and once it's manufactured, printed and delivered it doesn't require any more energy to use. Digital information requires running computers and they require more energy than you might suspect. If that energy isn't coming from hydro electric generators it's polluting. Unless you understand the system as a whole (and I don't pretend to) it's not easy to make decisions that make sense.

electronic devices can be recycled too, and the ipad2 is pretty recyclable...recent articles I've read suggest that 20 books on an iPad2 is the point at which it becomes more 'green' than buying the books...now, of course borrowing books is greener than buying or electronic--much of the issue has to do with how much print material you would buy vs download, and also what device you use to read the material

in our firm, we hardly ever print booklets or even large color prints for presentations anymore--an electronic set is easier to distribute, less costly, and greener than printing...but we still draw on paper for many things and always will

[anonymous122511]

Originally Posted by ()smoke()

electronic devices can be recycled too, and the ipad2 is pretty recyclable...recent articles I've read suggest that 20 books on an iPad2 is the point at which it becomes more 'green' than buying the books...now, of course borrowing books is greener than buying or electronic--much of the issue has to do with how much print material you would buy vs download, and also what device you use to read the material

in our firm, we hardly ever print booklets or even large color prints for presentations anymore--an electronic set is easier to distribute, less costly, and greener than printing...but we still draw on paper for many things and always will

Don't get me wrong I live on a boat where space is always at a premium and I am a happy Kindle and laptop user. But then paper books really make the rounds here at the marina too. I'm kinda of the opinion the issue is not really paper vs electronics but how you use whatever formats you choose. Recycling seems to be at the heart of true "greenness".

[()smoke()]

Originally Posted by jeff arddun

Don't get me wrong I live on a boat where space is always at a premium and I am a happy Kindle and laptop user. But then paper books really make the rounds here at the marina too. I'm kinda of the opinion the issue is not really paper vs electronics but how you use whatever formats you choose. Recycling seems to be at the heart of true "greenness".

yeah, i think we have a similar outlook

my little boy is watching bob the builder right now, and his mantra, 'reduce, reuse, recycle' is actually right on, imo