Effects of E-Commerce on Energy Use
Many individuals use their personal computer to buy goods online. In fact, E-Commerce results in a host of energy issues ranging from communication energy uses to the energy it takes to ship goods. Some of the issues are outlined below:

Benefits

* Online buyers generally spend more time reading reviews and background information of a product than traditional purchasers. E-Commerce vendors can use this opportunity to promote and steer customers to more environmentally better products.

* Online buyers generally have electronic supply chain mangement systems since they are better suited for their electronic stores. This integration can help decrease manufacturing inefficiences as demand is closely linked to production/supply. Additionally, as more companies implement electronic business strategies, new supply chains which are eco-friendly can be more easily created and managed.

Problems

* Pollution: Items which are purchased online tend to be shipped by air transport. Air transport contributes significantly to the pollution of the environment especially since regulations on airplane emissions are considerable less mature than car emissions. Additionally, trucks are used for the "last mile" trip to an individual's home. Although, the individual trips to the local store may decrease as a result of online purchases, the overall transportation costs (energy consuption and pollution) when individual packages must be sent out to individuals is estimated to be greater.

* Packing: In Brick-and-Mortar Companies, products are sent in bulk packaging. Yet online purchases require the few goods that are purchased to be packed correctly contributing to an increase in waste.

Other Resources
Several long term and in-depth studies relating to e-commerce have been conducted. Some sites for more research are: CSPR, LBV

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