1、INTERNATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATION UNION ITU-T TE LEC0 MM UN I CATI0 N STANDARDIZATION SECTOR OF ITU L.45 (1 0/2000) SERIES L: CONSTRUCTION, INSTALLATION AND PROTECTION OF CABLES AND OTHER ELEMENTS OF OUTSIDE PLANT Minimizing the effect on the environment from the outside plant in telecommunication net
2、works ITU-T Recommendation L.45 (Formerly CCITT Recommendation) ITU-T Recommendation L.45 Minimizing the effect on the environment from the outside plant in telecommunication networks Summary This Recommendation details the methodology adopted in order to minimize the effects (e.g. energy and COZ) c
3、aused by the use of outside plant in the environment. This is based on life-cycle analysis, that is, cradle to the grave ownership of the products. Source ITU-T Recommendation L.45 was prepared by ITU-T Study Group 6 (1997-2000) and approved by the World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (M
4、ontreal, 27 September - 6 October 2000. ITU-T L.45 (10/2000) i FOREWORD The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is the United Nations specialized agency in the field of telecommunications. The ITU Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T) is a permanent organ of ITU. ITU-T is responsi
5、ble for studying technical, operating and tariff questions and issuing Recommendations on them with a view to standardizing telecommunications on a worldwide basis. The World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA), which meets every four years, establishes the topics for study by the ITU-
6、T study groups which, in turn, produce Recommendations on these topics. The approval of ITU-T Recommendations is covered by the procedure laid down in WTSA Resolution 1. In some areas of information technology which fall within ITU-Ts purview, the necessary standards are prepared on a collaborative
7、basis with IS0 and IEC. NOTE In this Recommendation, the expression “Administration“ is used for conciseness to indicate both a telecommunication administration and a recognized operating agency. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS ITU draws attention to the possibility that the practice or implementation
8、of this Recommendation may involve the use of a claimed Intellectual Property Right. ITU takes no position concerning the evidence, validity or applicability of claimed Intellectual Property Rights, whether asserted by ITU members or others outside of the Recommendation development process. As of th
9、e date of approval of this Recommendation, ITU had not received notice of intellectual property, protected by patents, which may be required to implement this Recommendation. However, implementors are cautioned that this may not represent the latest information and are therefore strongly urged to co
10、nsult the TSB patent database. O ITU 2001 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without permission in writing from ITU. CONTENTS 1 Life-cycle analysis 1.1 Manufacturi
11、ng 1.2 Usage 1.3 Scrapping 1.3.1 Disassembling . 1.3.2 Recyclinglwaste approach for environmental impact from a transmission line based on LCA Life-cycle analysis (LCA) on an optical transmission media Appendix I - Environmental issues for the outside plant - A “cradle to the grave“ I . 1 1.1.1 Abst
12、ract . I . 1.2 Introduction . I . 1.3 I . 1.4 Scope - ”Cradle to the grave perspective on optical cables Conditions for the study 1.2 Manufacturing 1.3 Usage 1.4 Scrapping 1.5 Summary . ITU-T L.45 (10/2OOO) 1 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 5 5 . 111 ITU-T Recommendation L.45 Minimizing the effect on the enviro
13、nment from the outside plant in telecommunication networks e e e e e e e e e e e 1 considering that the energy consumption to maintain the continuous operation of data and telecommunication equipment for IT activities has a significant impact on the environment. For example 1% of the total power con
14、sumption of Stockholm is used to realize all telephone calls and to be able to transmit and receive all fax messages and data files on a 24-hour basis; that there is the potential for energy saving with effective telecommunication solutions; that the use of IT technology can be a possible way toward
15、s a more sustainable society with efficient use of energy and with a substantial reduction in the emission of “greenhouse“ gases; that the global warming phenomenon causes disturbances in global weather conditions which result in storms, floods, erosion, malaria and changes in the sea currents in th
16、e oceans; that a life-cycle analysis of underground optical cables has been carried out in Sweden which shows it is applicable to other networks; that energy consumption changes continuously with the development of cable design, cable manufacture, installation methods, tools, machinery and vehicles;
17、 the existence of an Agenda 21, a comprehensive plan of action to be taken globally, nationally and locally by organizations of the United Nations, governments and major groups in every area in which humans impact on the environment; that there are instances where toxic waste is polluting the enviro
18、nment through ignorance or neglect, it is recommended to contribute in all industrial activities to reduce the effects of global warming; to minimize energy consumption and reduce greenhouse gases in accordance with the technique of life-cycle analysis in IS0 14040; to use IS0 14020 and IS0 14025 as
19、 criteria for an environmental declaration on products and systems; that each organization involved should have an environmental policy and an environmental plan with measurable goals on how to improve products and methods for a reduction in the consumption of energy; to keep track of toxic and dang
20、erous substances and to have a waste management system. Life-cycle analysis In an attempt to cover the whole life cycle using a “cradle to the grave“ perspective for cables and equipment, the life cycle is divided into three phases (see Figure 1): e manufacturing; e scrapping. e usage; 1 ITU-T LA5 (
21、10/2OOO) Natural resources Production of and waste Energy consumption = energy production T0604840-00 Figure UL.45 - Life cycle assessment 1.1 Manufacturing The manufacturing phase includes raw material, transportation and production of a product. It is important to use materials with low impact on
22、the environment and to follow the legislation in each country and the recommendations regarding banned materials. 1.2 Usage The phase “usage“ can be divided into installation, operation and maintenance. It is established that optical cables due to their light weight and improved installation capabil
23、ity technique give a lower usage of energy and CO2 than copper cables. During the installation phase of the cables it is also very important to organize transportation in an optimal way. This is done by using a fleet of well-maintained vehicles and machinery that causes minimal pollution, using suit
24、able fuel and having catalyst exhaust fume cleaning systems. 1.3 Scrapping Scrapping of cables is divided into disassembling and recycling/waste. Scrapping of optical cables is not common today. Scrapping of the optical cable ends (short cable pieces) is currently performed when splicing cables and
25、the cable waste is disposed of in a similar way to that in the manufacturing process. Scrapping of old copper cables is industrialized in most parts of the world. The copper is recycled and the plastic materials are burned or disposed of as waste. If cables or batteries contain lead the recycling pr
26、ocess should be carried out according to safety requirements. Scrapping of old telephone poles impregnated with preservatives also requires sound environmental practices. 1.3.1 Disassembling Excluding the duct and poles, optical cables can be removed with the same technique with which they were inst
27、alled (blowing, floating and pulling). Due to the ease of their removal there is the potential for reuse of the cable or recycling of the cable material. They can also be left in the duct (if permitted) as they cause no contamination in the ground environment. 1.3.2 RecycBng/was te Sheath materials
28、from optical cables and fibres can easily be separated mechanically and most of the plastic materials recycled. Where optical cables are metal free and only contain thermoplastic plus optical fibres the energy content in thermoplastic can be regained as heat when burnt in heating plants as its conte
29、nt is similar to petroleum oil. For poles, attention should be paid to local legislation for their disposal or reuse. APPENDIX I Environmental issues for the outside plant - A “cradle to the grave“ approach for environmental impact from a transmission line based on LCA 1.1 Life-cycle analysis (LCA)
30、on an optical transmission media 1.1.1 Abstract The study deals with the impact on the environment due to the use of optical fibre transmission media like optical fibres and optical cables. 1.1.2 Introduction Ericsson, Telia and AT e usage (including installation); e scrapping (including dismantling
31、). 3 ITU-T LA5 (10/2OOO) 1.1.4 Conditions for the study The analysis is based on underground optical cables for the long-distance network in Sweden. Submarine cables and indoor networks are not included in the study. Conditions for the study changes continuously as the development in the field of ca
32、ble design, cable production, installation methods, tools, machinery and vehicles is proceeding. The study regards energy consumption and greenhouse gases. 1.2 Manufacturing The manufacturing phase includes raw material, transportation and production of a product. It is important to use materials wi
33、th low impact on the environment and to follow the legislation in each country and the recommendations regarding banned materials. 1.3 Usage The phrase “usage“ can be divided into installation, function and maintenance. Installa tion The transition from copper conductor cables to optical fibre cable
34、s has had and still has a significant influence on cable installation techniques. Modern optical cables are light in weight and suited to be installed with blowing or floating techniques in long lengths. Due to improved design of high-count fibre, cables are slim, lightweight and fast to splice. Tod
35、ay a 12-fibre ribbon unit only takes a couple of minutes to splice. The most resource consuming part of the installation is the placement of duct systems. In the attachments one can see the CO2 emissions during installation of a typical long-distance cable. The CO2 emission is mainly derived from th
36、e usage of fossil fuel like petrol and gasoline that is used in vehicles for transportation, digging, ploughing equipment and compressors, etc. You might therefore set emissions of CO2 equal to usage of fossil fuels. In Telias fleet of vehicles it is today mandatory to use catalyst cleaning of the e
37、xhaust fumes but this does not influence the emissions of carbon dioxide. See charts with calculated emission of COZ. Function Early optical cable plants have been in function for more than 20 years without any significant degradation of the cable properties. There is no indication that the lifetime
38、 of an optical cable will be shorter than 20 years. Scrapping of “old“ optical cables has so far not occurred due to their future- proofness. The energy consumption in optical cables is small in comparison with “electrical“ telephone cable systems. It is notable that the energy usage in a telecom ne
39、twork mainly derives from the terminal equipment and the switches (see charts with measured energy consumption from a videoconference system). The energy usage in transmission systems can normally be estimated as less than 10% of the total energy consump tion. The amount of transmitted signal energy
40、 is small and the attenuation in the fibres, especially single- mode fibres, permits long length transmission. Techniques like WDM further increase the bandwidth and the amount of information. The energy consumption during lifetime is located to the transmission equipment. The “footprint“ of the ele
41、ctronics is getting smaller and smaller and the technical development in this area is very fast. See charts with calculated emissions for different telecom traffic and services. Maintenance Maintenance costs have dropped significantly due to fast repair methods and due to the fact that optical cable
42、s are not damaged by lightning. Optical cables are not “sensitive“ to moisture penetration to the same extent as copper cables. Most of its resource consumption is due to transportation of the maintenance personnel and working machines to access the cables. 1.4 Scrapping Scrapping of optical cables
43、can be divided into disassembling and recyclinglwaste. Scrapping of optical cables is not common today. Scrapping of optical cables is currently performed when splicing cables (short cable pieces) and to handle cable waste in connection with the manufacturing process. Scrapping of old copper cables
44、is industrialized in Sweden. Figures presented in the chart are calculated based on scrapping of copper cables. Disassembling/Dismantling If excluding the duct, optical cables can be removed with the same technique with which they were installed (blowing, floating, and pulling). Due to the ease of r
45、emoving optical cables there is a potential for reuse of the cable or recycling of the cable material. They can also be left in the duct (if permitted by authorities and real estate owners) as they cause no known contamination in the ground environment. It is notable that the environmental impact fr
46、om the dismantling process might be significant due to high emissions of COZ. See charts with calculated emission of COZ. Recycling/Waste Sheath materials and fibres can easily be separated mechanically and most of the plastic material recycled. As modern optical cables today are metal free (at leas
47、t in Sweden) and only contain thermoplastic materials (mostly polyethylene) plus the optical fibres, therefore the energy content in optical cables can be regained as heat when burnt in heating plants as their content is similar to petroleum oil. In our study we have calculated with recycling of she
48、ath material. 1.5 Summary LCA analyses of optical cables get a favourable position as an extremely efficient product in view of its small material content and its functionality. The installation and dismantling phase for an optical cable plant is the most resource consuming activity. It is important
49、 to even further improve installation methods, and this is possible to achieve by the use of key figures like greenhouse gas (COZ) and energy (kWh or MJ) when designing new telecom networks. Optical cables play an important role as the only transmission medium that can handle the increasing demand on telecommunications (Internet, broadband etc). Information is one of the important tools to handle the more and more complex global environmental situation. Example of services: Emissions of greenhouse gas for operating a limited videoconference meeting (5 hours a week during one year) in Swede
