Are LCDs really greener than CRTs?

New research this week from the US has shown that levels of a greenhouse gas emitted during the production of LCDs and flat-screen TVs - is actually four times higher than previously thought.

Researchers from Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California San Diego (UCSD), discovered that the amount of Nitrogen trifluoride (NF3) in the atmosphere was about 4,200 metric tons, compared with previous estimates of 1,200 tons.

"This result reinforces the critical importance of basic research in determining the overall impact of the information technology industry on global climate change, which has already been estimated to be equal to that of the aviation industry," added Larry Smarr, director of the California Institute for Telecommunications at UCSD.

Despite the rise in NF3 - CRT's which contain large amounts of lead are still probably more polluting but I need to do some more digging to work out how the two styles of monitor compare on total green house gas emissions.

For more go to: http://scrippsnews.ucsd.edu/Releases/?releaseID=933