In October 2006, Iwate Prefecture put on public display an original slide rule designed to measure the environmental loads caused by various daily activities - the "Environmental Load Slide Rule." Environmental load levels are calculated in terms of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Instructions for how to make an Environmental Load Slide Rule were also included in the exhibit, in the hopes that the device will be used for environmental education.

The Environmental Load Slide Rule is an analog computer that shows how much we can contribute to reducing environmental loads incurred through daily activities, which are itemized in 17 categories such as whether on not one reduces waste, recycles aluminum cans and glass bottles, burns gasoline and so on. By sliding the middle strip of the slide rule, which corresponds to everyday activities that place a burden on the environment, the corresponding volume of CO2 emissions is shown on the top strip in grams and on the bottom strip in kilograms. For example, burning a kilogram of newspaper produces a 2 kg load of CO2, while burning a kilogram of PET bottles produces 4 kg of CO2, and driving a gasoline-powered car for 5 kilometers produces 2 kg.

As the figures clearly show the volume of CO2 emissions produced, which cannot normally be felt or seen, the Environmental Load Slide Rule is expected to be of use in environmental education, and help promote people's proactive awareness of the need to start taking their own global warming measures. Its creators hope that people will find it fun to use and create their own environmental rulers with different activity categories of their own.



Posted: 2007/02/12 05:05:31 PM
Japanese version

TAG Global warming , Local government