I’ve got a lot of books in my house. Most readers that I know, myself included, have very, very mixed feelings about the changing face of the publishing industry. With the rise of Kindles and iPads, books seem to be getting pushed aside. Nothing can ever replace the feel of a worn, well-loved book in my hands.
Reading Green on the Road
I admit it – I love taking my e-reader with me on long trips. It’s a little bit less of a hassle to pack one slender e-reader as opposed to three different books. This reminds me of my transition to iPod from portable cd player. Before I finally broke down and got an iPod, not only did I lug a portable cd player on trips, but I carted a mini-folder of cds with me as well. That added at least four extra pounds to my carryon, and I really had to adore those cds to cart them with me cross-country.
I feel the same way about books, in terms of weight. If I now know that the extra weight of my suitcase or carryon can actually increase my carbon footprint (and make my luggage ten times heavier), then bringing five or six books on the plane with me is a lot less attractive.
Eco-Bookworms Need Help
However, the jury is still out about who really wins the green award, in the knock-down drag-out fight between real, actual, honest-to-God paper books and e-books.
It’s easy to build a case against books. They’re heavier, publishers aren’t always able to recycle them due to the glue in the binding, and, of course, the more books you have in your house, the more trees have been cut down.
While e-readers save trees, you’re using extra electricity. Plus, with the exception of Apple, researchers found that not many e-reader companies declare how green their readers are.
Strike a Balance
What’s greener? Books or e-readers? It depends on how much you read, really. The more you read, the greener of an option the e-reader is for you. The less you read, the more time it will take you to offset the carbon footprint of a Kindle, according to the Cleantech Group. On the other hand, if you read more than, say, twenty-two books a year, consider a Kindle or an e-reader to save all those trees. Remember, Kindles or iPads are especially handy when you’re on the road or in an airplane.
But, if you’re like me and can’t seem to imagine a happy life without real books, just become book conscious and reuse them, which is a fantastic green option. Always go for secondhand books over new ones, don’t overlook the public library, and check out great online sites to get rid of old books or trade old book for “new” old books.
