This project ist a sub-project within the ETU-project "Eco-Efficiency Now and in the Future - Comparative Studies on State, Sector and Product Levels". The goal of this ETU-sub-project "ICT Consumption Patterns in the Modern Infrastructure of Communities" is to compare different types of ICT technologies and infrastructures from the point of view of sustainable development.

The study analyses the variable work structure of wide-spread jobs like bankers, managers or researchers (so-called office work and creative work). Whether it’s a day with several meetings in town, a day in a conference abroad or an entire working day in one’s own office, individual energy and material consumption varies a lot. Two normally independent methods are combined in this project. The Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) is the appropriate tool to figure out the energy and material performance of ICT-devices like computers or mobile phones used in an office. The future table again is used to establish a number of scenarios representing probable and also possible working weeks. To avoid a too ecological point of view, the study will also bring up aspects of socially and economically sustainable work structures.

Project partners:

• Finland Futures Research Centre, Turku School of Economics and Business Administration, Finland (Contact: Olli Hietanen)
• Technology and Society Lab, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research, EMPA St. Gallen, Switzerland (Contact: Martin Lehmann)

For more informations please visit the ETU Project website. This project is funded by the National Technology Agency of Finland (TEKES).

Project term: 2004 - 2005

Contact: Martin Lehmann

    
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