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As gamers, we need to be aware of how our hobby impacts and work proactively to insure that it’s as green as possible. While we generally use games as entertainment, time is not the only thing being consumed when we play; resources go into the production of game consoles and other consumer electronic devices, and energy is consumed in their use. There’s an environmental cost to our hobby, and we should work to lower that cost where we can.

E-waste and energy consumption are two key areas where our voices and concerns can be heard in the intersection of gaming and environmentalism. Right now, the Senate is considering two bills which could help green our hobby. To that end, we’re asking you to tell your Senators to support S. 1397 the Electronic Device Recycling Research and Development Act and S. 1696 the Green Gaming Act of 2009.

S. 1397 would fund research and programs to expand recycling of consumer electronics, like game consoles, ensuring the proper disposal of any harmful chemicals in them, and the recycling and reuse of components. S. 1696 asks the Secretary of Energy to insure that game consoles have reasonable electricity consumption rates in line with other consumer electronic devices.

These bills are an important step in insuring that our hobby is environmentally responsible, and we ask you to tell your Senators to support them. For more information on these issues, see our position statement page.

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August 15, 2016

Subject:

As a gamer, concerned environmental citizen, and voter, I would like to urge you to support both S. 1397 The Electronic Device Recycling Research and Development Act and S. 1696 the Green Gaming Act of 2009. While I enjoy spending some of my free time playing video games, I also would like my hobby to be “greener,” and these bills would both help to that end.

S. 1397 calls for studies and research into ways of reducing e-waste and increase recyclability of consumer electronic devices. Obsolete and outdated electronics are a growing source of waste in America, and pose a significant risk of dangerous pollution due to the potentially harmful chemicals used in their creation. Efforts to recycle and repurpose electronics that have reached the end of their useful life ensures that these chemicals are properly disposed of, and allows the reuse of many parts of the old device. America is one of the leading consumers of electronics, and as such should be at the forefront of the effort to reduce this source of waste. S. 1397 would be a wonderful step in that direction, and I urge you to support it.

S. 1696 directs the Secretary of Energy to study energy consumption of video game consoles and determine if energy consumption standards should be imposed.  I believe that the current major console manufacturers- Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo- are all good corporate citizens cognizant of their duty to make products that are as green as possible. Perhaps the study will show that they all are making their products to the highest possible consumption standards and no standards are needed at this time. However, the success of the Environmental Protection Agency and Energy Department’s Energy Star program suggest that there may be room for improvement, or a need for a standard for new entrants into the console market, and for the current makers to adhere to as they develop new consoles.

Both S. 1397 and S. 1696 are needed steps to insure that my hobby of video games continues to improve as an environmentally sensitive hobby. While the industry has voluntarily worked to improve environmental practices, the government can insure that these efforts continue and expand beyond the video game industry to all consumer electronics.

Please represent me as your constituent and environmentally concerned gamer and give both S. 1397 and 1696 your support. Help address this growing environmental concern before it becomes a major problem. If you have any questions on this or other similar issues, please contact Jennifer Mercurio, Vice President and General Counsel of the Entertainment Consumer Association at jenn@theeca.com.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

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