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TGW09

Page history last edited by tadeusgunawan@... 15 years ago

Sustainability:

 

     In today's world most companies start to implement the “going green” policy or in other words incorporating sustainable practices into their business. Sustainability can be described as  the ability to fulfill present needs without negatively effect future generations' abilities to produce their needs. The idea of sustainability stems out around the 1980's, but only recently has it become an increasing concern to the general population.

     Sustainable practices include, and not limited to, sustainable agriculture, eco-friendly chemicals, recycling, renewable fuel and energy. The most anticipated technologies include solid-state lighting using LED (light emitting diode.) LED revolutionizes how we can utilize light in our daily life. It helps reduce pollution, saves energy and cost efficient [1]. LED lightings prove to have longer lifespan, brighter and consume 80-90% less energy compared to the conventional light bulbs [2]. This solid state lighting idea reveals the potentials of Calpoly polymer electronic lab's project. The polymer electronic lab might not produces industry standard OLED, but it provides a great step to introduce the students to the future of sustainable electronics. The OLEDs being produced in the lab consist mostly of polymer, a biodegradable material, and glass, which is recyclable. Moreover, the project's end products contain minimal amount of metal (calcium in this case.) Considering there always have been problems with stripping metals from disposed electronic devices, by minimizing the use of metal in a device it helps decrease waste and pollution. Also, throughout the process of making the OLED in the lab there were no extensive use of hard chemicals such as acid and chemical strippers like those present in producing silicon based electronic devices.

     In the other hand, however, the LEDs produced in the polymer electronic lab are not exactly sustainable electronic. In the process of making these LEDs there were many human errors such as spills and excessive use of the polymer solutions. Also by producing these LEDs manually and in small quantities they have longer production time, higher production cost and lower end product yield. All of these could be avoided if the procedures were automated and done with machines and computers. By automating the production we can create a smaller and functioning OLED that uses even less amount of metal.

     No, the polymer electronic lab does not produce a completely sustainable electronic devices, but it paves the path for the students toward that goal. The excitements in the lab about the importance of sustainable electronic devices and the challenge presented to strive for a greener future will impact the future generations. The changes will take place slowly, but the goal will always to have a cheaper, long lasting, eco-friendly and sustainable electronics.

 

 

 

 

References:

 

[1] J.K. Kim, E.F. Schubert "Tracending the Replacement Paradigm of Solid-State Lighting," Optics Express, vol. 16, no. 26, pp. N/A, December 2008..

[2] Unknown, “Top Green Lighting Tips,” Planet Green, N/A [Online]. Available: http://planetgreen.discovery.com/go-green/green-lighting/green-lighting-top-tips.html [Accessed: February 4, 2009].

 

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