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OCR H446 1.5.2 Environmental lifecycle of computing

Part 3 of 9 · H446 1.5.2 · Moral and ethical issues

Environmental questions in OCR H446 1.5.2 are too often answered with electricity use alone. This worksheet extends the analysis across extraction, manufacture, transport, use, repair and disposal, then puts students inside a replace-or-extend decision about school hardware.

Students will:

  • describe the environmental effects that arise at each stage of a device lifecycle
  • distinguish impacts created during manufacture from those created while a device is in use
  • weigh remaining life and repairability against the efficiency of a replacement
  • suggest design changes that reduce the impact of a streaming service without assuming it stops
  • state the evidence that should decide a hardware replacement recommendation

Inside: 5 explanation cells, 1 multiple-choice question, 2 fill-in-the-blanks cells and 2 written answers. 26 marks, about 20 to 40 minutes.

Series: H446 1.5.2 · Moral and ethical issues, part 3 of 9.

Shared by Coding PathwayVerified teacher

  • 10 cells
  • About 30 minutes
  • CC BY-SA 4.0
  • Shared 31 Aug 2026
  • Updated 3 Sept 2026

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The whole resource, exactly as a class sees it. Answers and marking are held back.

Environmental lifecycle of computing

This worksheet examines environmental effects across the full lifecycle of computing equipment. When a question asks about environmental effects, a complete answer considers more than the electricity used while a device is switched on.

Four lifecycle stages

Computing environmental lifecycleenvironmental effects occur across the whole lifecycle1 EXTRACTminerals + waterhabitat + labourreduce demand2 MAKE / MOVEenergy + emissionssupply chainsdurable design3 USEelectricity + coolingdata + processinguse less energy4 DISPOSEwaste + toxinslost materialsrepair / reusedevelop each pointlifecycle stage → resource or activitythen explain the environmental effect → possible response

Extracting materials uses finite resources and can damage habitats. Manufacturing and transport use energy and water. Using equipment requires electricity, cooling, networks and data centres. Disposal can create toxic electronic waste, while repair, reuse and recycling can keep devices or materials in use.

Computing can also reduce some environmental effects, for example through efficient route planning or remote access. Do not assume a technology is greener: compare the relevant evidence across its lifecycle.

Worked comparison: replace or keep using

New school laptops may use less electricity and be more reliable. However, making them uses materials and energy, while throwing away repairable machines creates electronic waste.

A supported recommendation would compare the old and new machines’ measured energy use, remaining useful life, repair needs, reuse or recycling routes, and the source of the electricity. One stage alone is not enough.

Multiple choice1 mark

Which method gives the fairest environmental comparison between keeping old devices and buying replacements?

  • ACompare purchase price and energy use, but assume manufacturing has the same effect for both options
  • BCompare manufacturing and disposal, but leave out how long each option will be used
  • CCompare manufacturing, expected energy use, useful life, repair or reuse, and disposal for both options
  • DCompare electricity use during one lesson and treat the lower figure as the complete answer
Fill in the blanks4 marks
Computing equipment can cause environmental effects during material gap 1, manufacture and transport, energy use while it is gap 2, and end-of-life disposal or gap 3. A fair comparison should include the same lifecycle gap 4 for each option.
  • extraction
  • operating
  • recycling
  • stages
  • password
Written answer8 marks

A video platform automatically starts videos in high resolution. Explain two environmental effects of this design. For each effect, explain one change that could reduce it without stopping people from streaming.

Connect the design to data transfer, processing, storage or device energy use. State one possible disadvantage of each change.

Students type their answer here.

Apply the ideas independently

The next task asks you to compare a new pair of options. Use the same lifecycle stages and types of evidence for both.

Written answer9 marks

A school can keep repairable desktops for four more years or replace them with lower-energy mini computers. Discuss the environmental implications of the two options.

Compare like with like, identify uncertainty and explain what evidence should guide a supported conclusion.

Students type their answer here.

Fill in the blanks4 marks
Material checkpoint gap 1 uses finite resources. Manufacturing and transport use energy. During operation, devices and data centres may require electricity and checkpoint gap 2. Repair and reuse can delay electronic checkpoint gap 3, while recycling may recover useful checkpoint gap 4.

Review your responses

Check that each environmental claim names a lifecycle stage and explains an effect. Replace any unsupported ‘always’ claim with a comparison based on evidence.