Green_Technology

TecSpecial Issue on Green Computing Scope: Computing is not only a high-tech one, but also a high-energy-consuming one. Inspired by the need to take adequate actions against humankind’s rapidly destroying the conditions for prosperity and profit, green computing with the aiming of energy costs and CO2 emissions’ reducing, and environment protecting, has become a potential research focus for all the information and communication technology designers. Green computing is the environmentally responsible use of computers and related resources. Such practices include the implementation of energy-efficient central processing units (CPUs), servers and peripherals as well as reduced resource consumption and proper disposal of electronic waste. The objective of this special issue is to present a collection of high-quality research papers that report the latest research advances in the area of green information and communications technologies, which mainly includes the development of truly sustainable (eco-effective) information technologies and related solutions. In this special issue, we solicit original work in all areas of green computing. In particular, we seek original work on identifying new research and development challenges, developing new techniques and advanced information technology solutions in green computing for future computing systems, innovative information and communication technologies and applications. Specific topics include, but not limited to, the following: Green design Green data centers Green metrics Green IT lessons (experience, case studies) Green printing Green power grid Green communications and networks Energy-efficient computing Power management Eco-labeling of IT products Virtual resources management Virtualization Disposal and recycling Others and emerging new topics Green Computing What is green computing and how it could be efficient and profitable' When we hear the term “green living” many of us think of the outdoors-trees, mountains and laws. In fact, green living can start indoors by recycling, finding new and creative uses for old items and trying to save the energy. Most of us would never think that computers could be involved in “green living”. Nowadays the computers are one of the fastest-growing electricity loads in the business. Computers will soon be the most prevalent electronic device on our planet. They will become a part of almost every facet of our lives. With the growing use of computers we must also have a growing understanding of how their use affects our environment. Computers could help us to conserve resources but they presently are causing an increase Green technology offers network managers cost-reduction and operational benefits Cutting carbon emissions and going green is no longer just an option: it is the inevitable future of business in the 21st century. Execs are being urged to junk their Jag and pick up a Prius. Business travelers are encouraged to take the train over the 'plane. And organizations are urged, through legislation, public relations and sheer economics, to increase the efficiency of their operations, from logistics to networks to datacenters. Yet there is a common misconception that going green is a tiresome, expensive process, needing support at every turn. This couldn't be further from the truth. These myths are simply based on outdated impressions of green technology. The reality is that green technology is now becoming the norm and it actually makes business and environmental sense to use it. For example, take the network. This is traditionally the beating heart of a business: if it is not working, then the business cannot operate. As a result, it is imperative that IT departments are able to use the most capable technology they can to keep their network performing. More and more, the most capable and the greenest technology are one and the same. Currently, green technology offers the same functionality as traditional technology, and for much the same up-front price. However, it also adds a host of additional benefits in terms of costs, technology and its influence on the organization. For example, green networking switches use less energy and so generates less heat. This means that the latest generations of products also have fewer moving parts such as fans. This results in less maintenance, a longer lifespan and a greatly reduced total cost of ownership (TCO), above the reduced energy costs green technology provides. From a technological standpoint, green products can offer much more intelligent functionality than their traditional counterparts. Green network switches can now shut down automatically when not in use; they can schedule wireless access and port use to ensure that maximum efficiency is achieved at all times; and can even adjust power usage to correspond with the amount of Ethernet cable used in the network. Put simply, green network technology lasts longer, costs less and does the same job as traditional equipment. As a result, adopting it becomes as much a business decision as an environmental one. The one important question is what should be done by organizations currently using traditional networking equipment' After all, an older switch won't magically become as efficient as a newer model, while upgrading a network early on in its life cycle is simply wasteful. Like any other equipment upgrade, making the switch to green technology should be a simple matter of measuring costs and benefits. Organizations should measure the total lifetime costs of using green technology against those of their current equipment: when it becomes cost-effective to upgrade to a newer model, taking into account an increased lifespan and lower energy costs, then it's time to switch. As a result, going green simply becomes another part of the equipment procurement process. The green revolution is not going anywhere: whether it is done for purely altruistic or financial reasons, organizations will need to become more energy-efficient. However, achieving this is far from a Herculean task that will cost the earth: if IT departments can sort fact from fiction with green technology, they will soon be able to reap the benefits. Chris Davies is general manager D-Link UK & Ireland About IT efficiency and sustainability IT efficiency and sustainability increasingly go hand-in-hand as goals of an effective IT strategy. But it's not just about the environmental benefits of green IT - improving energy efficiency is key to controlling or reducing IT running costs, and IT efficiency means adopting best practices to run lean, cost-effective IT infrastructure. We examine the tools, trends and technologies that matter to IT managers. Evolving power supplies, batteries address energy management concerns Heather Clancy Published: 27 Jun 2008 By Heather Clancy, Contributor The power inefficiencies associated with many older desktops and servers start with the lowly power supply. But now these components are getting a makeover, giving value-added resellers (VARs) at least one short-term answer for customers' burgeoning concern over energy management and power costs. Many older systems use power supplies that waste an enormous amount of electricity -- sometimes more than half the amount being drawn -- in the conversion from high-voltage alternating current (AC) to the low-voltage direct current (DC) that is used by the circuitry in most office equipment, according to the Green desktop strategies Heather Clancy, Contributor Much ongoing green technology coverage and debate is focused on energy efficiency and environmental responsibility in the data center. But there's plenty that can be done on the client side at customer sites, too. This webcast session, * Evolving power supplies, batteries address energy management concerns * Improved efficiency in power supplies and batteries could have a huge impact on customers' energy use and green IT systems services. Find out which vendors are getting on board with energy management in the effort to cut power usage in desktop and server adapters * Next-generation data centers aim for virtualized everything * Next-generation data centers will take virtualization far beyond servers in a bid to expedite application delivery. * Going green in the data center * Energy saving is important for data centers, where customers must reduce power and cooling costs Going green in the data center | | | | | | | With the cost of power and cooling today -- along with the fact that many customers are maxed out on power and HVAC -- energy savings due to increased efficiencies has been a hot topic. Added to the basic cost factors are an increased social awareness from influences like An inconvenient Truth and the desire to go green. Organizations like the Green Grid on working on going green at a industry level, while chip, server and power-related vendors are working to improve the efficiencies of their products. The focus has shifted from basic understanding of how much power you need, to analyzing the performance-per-watt capability of one vendor's server over another. Interestingly, the high density of blade servers has driven forward momentum in this area, due to the increase in power and cooling requirements per square foot. This comes with high-density computing, even though server for server, blades are more efficient and use less power and cooling than their counterpart rack servers). There have been significant advances in thermal sensing and active management of components relative to both power and heat. New techniques involve granular sensing and power management, allowing components to power down as possible and/or needed based on lower utilization or thresholds reached. Big players like IBM and HP continue to engage in debates over whose blades save more energy according to someone's latest benchmark study. In fact, benchmarks, like most statistics, can be skewed to tell the desired story by choosing the tests carefully. The only real way to tell how various products will perform a particular customer workload is of course to benchmark that workload. Many large users today are engaging in bake-offs between server vendors; winners depend on many complex contributing factors. As discussed in my recent columns on power and cooling, there are many things to consider in going green in addition to the green capabilities of the server itself. Examples include hot-aisle, cold-aisle configurations, making data center cooling more efficient through such things as blanking panels and improved cable management, and potentially even DC power. Technology trends in processors and servers Home: Introduction 1: Multi-core processor benefits and trends 2: Going green in the data center 3: Licensing for multi-core processors and virtualization Blades and Virtualization Summit: For more in-depth, up-to-date information on server chip issues, power and cooling improvements, futures in virtualization, blade server implementation and more, consider the Blades and Virtualization Summit on May 1-3. You'll hear from and connect with blade server hardware and virtualization software vendors, power and cooling companies, TechTarget expert panelists, and other experts on the latest products and services related to these technologies. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: | | Barb Goldworm Barb Goldworm is President of Focus Consulting, a research, analyst and consulting firm focused on systems and storage. She has spent 30 years in technical, marketing, industry analyst and senior management positions with IBM, Novell, StorageTek, Enterprise Management Associates, and multiple successful startups. She chairs the Blades and Virtualization Summit conference on blades and virtualization, and has been one of the top three ranked analyst/knowledge expert speakers at Storage Networking World. Barb has authored numerous business and technical white papers and articles and has just finished a book, Blades Servers and Virtualization: Transforming Enterprise Computing While Cutting Costs. Email Barb for more information. Copyright 2007 TechTarget | Concept of Green Technology: How It All Began written by: N Nayab • edited by: Michele McDonough• updated: 5/20/2011 The importance of green technology was made evident when computing attained critical mass in the early 1990s. The late 1990s and early 2000s witnessed many regulatory milestones, and the recent years witness companies innovating to incorporate green technology. * slide 1 of 8 Green technology is the application of environmental science to offer economically viable solutions that conserve the natural environment and resources, and curb the negative impacts of human involvement. The proliferation of data centers required the constant addition of server, cooling and ventilation equipment that led to an ever-increasing demand of energy and increased presence of toxic and hazardous substances such as lead, mercury, cadmium, and others. This made people look at ways to apply green technology in computing to mitigate the serious environmental and health concerns. Some examples of the application of green technology in computing include: * reducing the use of environmentally hazardous materials like CFC, lead and others * promoting the use of recyclable materials and minimizing use of non-biodegradable components * promoting practices such as energy cost accounting, virtualization, eWaste recycling and the like * application of technology with change in lifestyle habits aimed at energy conservation * slide 2 of 8 Energy Star Ratings The first major landmark in the history of green computing was the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s Energy Star program, launched in 1992. “Energy Star” is a voluntarily labeling program that segregates computers, monitors and other equipment based on their energy efficiency. Find more sources/options for what you are looking for The biggest impact of the Energy Star ratings was manufacturers introducing the “Sleep mode” in computers to attain a higher rating. Sleep mode places the consumer's electronic equipment on standby when no user activity takes place during the pre-set time. The revised Energy Star Specifications of 2007 place stringent requirements to attain energy star ratings. The new specifications determine efficient use of computing technology through guidelines such as the company’s e-waste reduction, regulatory compliance, telecommuting policies, server resource virtualization, energy use cost accounting, thin client solutions, and the like. Existing equipment has to re-qualify to continue using the Energy Star logo. * slide 3 of 8 1997 Kyoto Protocol A landmark event in the history of green technology is the 1997 Kyoto Protocol for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. This protocol mandates reducing carbon emissions. The Kyoto Protocol made computer manufacturers undertake energy audits to calculate the electricity used by the device over its lifetime and determine the quantum of carbon dioxide emissions to take remedial action. * slide 4 of 8 Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) and Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE): The European Union’s adoption of Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) in February 2003 is a landmark in the history of green computing. The RoHS directive restricts the use of lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls, and polybrominated diphenyl ether in the manufacture of electronic and electrical equipments. The implementation of the RoHS was through the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE) of 2005. This directive set targets for collection, recycling, and recovery of electrical goods, aimed at reducing toxic e-waste. These regulations forced manufacturers to use non-hazardous materials in the production of chipsets, processors, and companion chips. * slide 5 of 8 Green Electronics Council’s Electronic Products Environmental Assessment (EPEAT): The Green Electronics Council established in 2005 focused on special issues related to electronics and sustainability, and sought constructive paths. One of the spin-offs of the Green Electronics Council was the Electronic Products Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT), a set of standards based on the IEEE 1680 Standard for Environmental Assessment of Personal Computer products. These standards aimed at increasing the efficiency and life of the products, and minimizing energy expenditures and maintenance activities throughout the life of the product. The development of EPEAT took three years and funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and since then has created a $60 billion market incentive for greener laptops, desktops, and monitors. * slide 6 of 8 Application of Green Technology by the Industry The recent history of green technology in computing is the history of various industry leaders innovating to comply with regulations. To reduce their carbon emission liability required by the 1997 Kyoto protocol, companies such as VIA promoted research on alternative energy sources such as solar cells to power computers. In 2001, VIA established the first-ever cyber community center in the South Pacific powered entirely by solar technology. Following the RoHS directives, VIA took the lead to substitute lead with a composite of tin, silver and copper. VIA’s Enhanced Ball Grid Array (EBGA) package contributed to the development of power efficient processors, and the Heat Sink Ball Grid Array (HSBGA) package contributed to the development of power efficient chipsets. These energy-efficient processors produce over four times less carbon and are compatible with solar-powered devices. Intel took the lead in virtualization software that allows a combination of several physical systems into a virtual machine running on a single, powerful base system significantly reducing power consumption. Dell increased its investment in renewable energy from wind, solar and natural gas capture, and offers free recycling to customers. HP has adopted the use of recycled plastic resin in the manufacture of printers and inkjet print cartridges in a big way. Google and Intel started the Climate Savers Computing Initiative in 2007, a nonprofit group of eco-conscious consumers, businesses, and conservation organizations aiming to reduce carbon emissions by promoting development, deployment, and adoption of smart technologies and improve the computer’s power delivery efficiency. * slide 7 of 8 Conclusion The adoption of green technology in computing has received considerable interest in recent years as more and more companies realize that going green is in their best interest, both in terms of public relations and reduced costs. Manufacturers’ today aim to improve energy efficiency by creating designs that minimize power waste and reduce emissions. Companies reduce the amount of toxic waste materials in the manufacturing process by using recyclable materials and offering to recycle old products. The application of solutions such as IP video solutions to reduce in-person meetings, the increased use of Wi-Fi and WiMax networks and other such initiatives are still in their nascent stages of development and further improvements in such green technology initiatives will help conserve the world's precious resources in a much better way. The application of green technology in computing has come a long way since its inception in the early 1990s. An analysis of the history of green computing however indicates that the concept is still in its nascent stage and has a long way to go. * slide 8 of 8 References * graybar.com. Green Computing and D-Link * Ecoseed.org. Green Computing * HP Eco Solutions: Environmental History 8 3 0 2 503 We Also Recommend... * Just What Is Green Computing' * Explaining Green Computing * Top Green Computing Tips That Make Economic Sense * Learning About Green Technology - Green Tech Books * New Strides In Environmentally Friendly Sailboat Production Just What is Green Computing' written by: MD Weems • edited by: Bill Bunter • updated: 5/5/2010 When it comes to the world of computers, green computing is becoming one of the most popular trends. But, what exactly is green computing' * slide 1 of 3 So What Is It' The term “green computing” is one that is coming out in many different markets and areas all over the world in today's global technology. Yet, many computer users out there aren't sure what it means. Green computing is actually pretty easy to explain and to do – it is basically learning to use computer resources more efficiently to help the environment as well as energy savings. The main goal of a green computing program is to help the triple bottom line, which is an expanded spectrum of settings for measuring organizational success, and is extremely similar to green chemistry, which reduces the use of energy and materials that harm the environment. Green computing helps to promote the usage of biodegradable products and recycle computer components whenever possible. * slide 2 of 3 How Did Green Computing Start' Green computing started as early as 1992, when the EPA created Energy Star, which is a voluntary labeling program that promotes energy efficient computing equipment and technologies. It was because of this program that many computer manufacturers launched sleep mode and millions of computer users around the world began to adopt this policy to help save energy when they were not using their computers. The term green computing began to be used around this same time as well, and began to become a goal that more companies strive to meet over the years. There are several government agencies that have continued to help strive for better standards for computers and companies to help promote green computing. Energy star was actually revised in October of 2006 to make the requirements more strict for computers, and also implemented a ranking system for products. Because of these new requirements, there are over 20 states that have now established a special recycling program for old computers and electronics to help with green computing. * slide 3 of 3 Green IT Systems Many of today's IT systems are beginning to rely on both people and hardware to help push their computer systems toward a more green computing system to help both the company and more. This is a hard balance to achieve, as it requires that the satisfaction of users, management, regulatory compliance, and even the disposal of computer waste is all managed so that everyone is the circle is happy with the outcome. But, many companies are learning the best ways that they can go more green when it comes to their computing and also help their business in the process. While many home computer users may not be quite as familiar with green computing as larger firms or computer personnel, this term is starting to become more mainstream and the requirements better for new computers to help both the companies and the end user of the equipment – as well as our environment. ◄●●●► 7 4 1 1 552 We Also Recommend... * The Business Of Going Green * Top 10 Green Computer Features: What Makes A Computer Really "Green"' * Top Green Computing Tips That Make Economic Sense * How Much Do You Know About Green It' * The Goals Of The Green Technology Alliance Top 10 Green Computer Features: What Makes a Computer Really "Green"' written by: Sidharth Thakur • edited by: Linda Richter• updated: 5/19/2011 Planning to buy a green computer, but don’t know what to check for' Here’s a list of the features that will help you in deciding whether or not the computer you’re buying is truly green. * slide 1 of 3 Every electronic device has an impact on the environment, and computers are no exception. So, as more and more people are becoming environmentally conscious, they’re continuously on the lookout for greener solutions. Opting for a green computer will not just be beneficial for the environment, but it will even be easier on your pocket over the long run because of its low energy consumption. * slide 2 of 3 Distinctive Features of a Green Computer Let’s now take a look at green computer features--which will help you in determining whether the computer you’re buying is truly green or not. Most computer manufacturers have introduced a series of green PCs, but do investigate the following features to ascertain how green their computers are. Low Use of Hazardous Elements: A lot of hazardous substances are used in the production of a computer ranging from the more lethal ones like cadmium, lead, chromium, and mercury to the relatively less hazardous ones like flame retardants, pesticides, and chlorinated plastics. A green computer's components should ideally be completely free of these lethal substances; thus IEEE environmental performance criteria requires the manufacturers of green computers to explicitly declare the percentage composition of these substances on the product. As for the less hazardous substances, the focus is on reduction of their use, since their elimination may not be completely possible. Energy Efficient: That’s one feature of green computers that pleases not just environmental enthusiasts but also the budget-conscious buyer. Every green computer will have an energy star rating on it, and the more the stars the more energy efficient the computer will be. Some green computers are also available with the option of running them on renewable energy like solar energy, for which the manufacturers will supply you with all the required accessories. Recycled Materials Used for Manufacturing: A truly green computer will have most of its components, especially the plastic ones, made of recycled materials. And the manufacturers are required to declare what percentage of material used in the production of the computer is recycled, with minimum thresholds specified at 10 percent. However, it’s more environmentally friendly to opt for a computer that’s built with more than 25 percent of recycled material. Ideally, printed circuit boards are the only things that may not contain recycled material. End of Life Recovery: The green computers are designed in such a way that at the end of their life their components can be easily reused, disassembled, or recycled. A minimum of 65% of the parts of the computer should be recyclable or reusable. Apparently, some of the better brands of green computers guarantee a minimum of 90% reusable or recyclable parts. Also, the parts that are hazardous should be marked accordingly for easy identification and expert handling. * slide 3 of 3 Use of Renewable and Bio-Based Materials: Another of the important green computer features is the increased use of renewable or bio-based materials. Again a minimum of 10 percent of such materials should have been used in the production of the green computer components, and the same must be declared. Longer Product Life: Green computers come in modular and upgradeable designs with the idea of extending their life cycle. The manufacturers are required to provide a minimum of 3 years' warranty or guarantee, and they must also ensure that the replacement parts will be made available to all buyers up to a minimum of five years. That certainly is one more good reason for you to buy a green computer. End of Life Take-back Facility: Every green computer comes with a take-back policy, wherein the manufacturer provisions to take back the computer at the end of its life and offer the buyer a new purchase at a competitive price. So, do verify that the brand of green computer that you’re buying offers a buy-back or take-back. Manufacturer's Certification: Before you settle on a particular brand of green computers, you must ensure that its manufacturer has ISO-14001 certification, which is the bare minimum for a manufacturer to qualify as environmental-policy compliant. Packaging Material: What’s a green computer that comes in a toxic or non-recyclable packaging' Truly, it isn’t one! So, do check the packaging material details to see that the material used is completely non-toxic and at least 90% of it is recyclable. It will be even better if the packaging is made of recycled material. EPEAT ratings: Before you make your final decision, do a bit of research on www.epeat.net, where all green computers and laptops have been assigned a rating that will clearly tell you how green the computer you’re buying is. You can find detailed reports on how each of these computers score, on the different environmental criteria. 5 14 6 2 249 We Also Recommend... * Top Green Computing Tips That Make Economic Sense * Great Resources For Green Business Cards * The Business Of Going Green * Top 10 Green Technology Gadgets * How Much Do You Know About Green It' Top 10 Green Technology Gadgets written by: Jean Scheid • edited by: Linda Richter• updated: 5/31/2011 Green gadgets and more green gadgets! We are all becoming earth stewards—especially when it comes to green technology gadgets. We want our home offices to be full of the neat green tech stuff and here, Jean Scheid looks at some of the best gadgets that will make yours even more green! * slide 1 of 11 Be an Earth Steward Often, to introduce eco-friendly tools into our lives, we just don’t know where to begin, so why not start with some exciting green technology gadgets' Here we did the work for you and offer up a list of the top 10 techie gadgets that are green and will start your journey to becoming a responsible earth steward. Read on to find what we at Bright Hub feel are the gadgets of choice you need now. * slide 2 of 11 1. Logitech Solar Powered Keyboard Available only from Logitech, this eco-friendly keyboard holds a charge for up to three months. Priced nicely at around $80, this keyboard boasts, “Goodbye battery hassles!” This green tech gadget comes with a three-year warranty and works with all Windows operating systems. It’s only 1/3-inch thick and is equipped with 2.4 GHz wireless technology. This keyboard will charge from sunlight or indoor lighting and is totally PVC-free and even comes in a recyclable box. * slide 3 of 11 2. Thinksound Wooden Headphones Check out this new green gadget at Amazon available in a great chocolate/wood color combo. Priced at approximately $47 and made from the environmentally friendly company Thinksound, these headphones will work with your iPhone, iPod, MP3, CD, DVD, and any computer. The wooden housing offers crisp sound and minimizes ambient sounds. Lightweight at only 1.6 ounces, these wooden headphones are PVC free and come with a cord clip and cotton carrying pouch. * slide 4 of 11 3. Bedol Water Powered Clock Busy people need to keep track of the time; and from Bedol, this water-powered clock is a great desktop accessory. Available from Amazon for only $17, it weighs only 14.4 ounces with dimensions of 3” x 4.2” x 4.2” and comes in four colors--blue, green, charcoal, and orange. This top-10 green technology gadget runs with just a splash of water and a dash of salt—and that means no batteries! * slide 5 of 11 4. Kindle Wireless eReader – 2nd Generation The Amazon Kindle is so popular and when it’s time to take a break from work, why not use this battery efficient tool to read or catch up on some research' You can get this green gadget at the Amazon Kindle store for approximately $190. A review from Wired says this Kindle’s battery life “Is long enough for a space shuttle mission!" Weighing in at only 8.7 ounces, this Kindle comes in two colors, white and graphite. It offers a 6” display and E-Ink Pearl technology. Longer battery life means energy conservation, and this great green technology gadget makes our top-10 list for every desk—home or office. * slide 6 of 11 5. Voltaic Solar Backpack Who knew that you could take some of your greatest desk, phone, and gaming tools, place them in a backpack, and have them charged with solar power' Straight from Voltaic and available at Amazon for only $180, this solar-powered must-have weighs only seven pounds and is 5.9” x 12.2” x 18.1” in size—plenty of room for those needed office gadgets when you're on the go. The solar panels offer a choice of color trim including green, orange, charcoal, and silver. * slide 7 of 11 6. Mode Home Office Recycling Center Printed drafts, emails, and other personal correspondence just builds up on your desk! Directly from Mode comes this office recycling center that can hold up to eight gallons of unwanted paper. Priced at approximately $270, this compacter weighs seven pounds and is 30.4” high by 15” wide. The neat mail-slot feature allows for easy paper consumption and it even comes with a recycle reminder to keep your office organized and free of unwanted paper. This small compactor holds three times more than similar recycling bins. * slide 8 of 11 7. Western Digital 2TB Caviar Green Hard Drive If you’re looking for a greener hard drive, Western Digital has what you need in their 2TB SATA Intellipower 64MB Hard Drive. Available through Amazon, for just under $100, this green technology gadget reduces power consumption up to 40% due to its IntelliSeek feature that actually looks for speeds that will lower your power use. This green hard drive can hold up to 400,000 digital photos, 500,000 MP3 files, and 240 hours of your favorite HD video; the three-year limited warranty is also great. What’s more, it’s nicely packaged in 100% recycled packaging. * slide 9 of 11 8. Dell G2410 LCD Monitor Need a new monitor and want to go green' If so, the Dell G2410 24-inch flat panel monitor has an LCD display in a widescreen format. Available at Amazon for around $483, it’s packed in environmentally friendly materials and its high efficiency means less power. Digital resolution is 1920x1080 and it comes with a three-year warranty. * slide 10 of 11 9. Kill-A-Watt Wireless Monitor Carbon Footprint Meter slide 11 of 11 10. Green Gadgets for Dummies Last but not least, what a better way to become more environmentally aware than to read about it' The hottest book, Green Gadgets for Dummies, awaits you at Amazon and author Tom Zeller, Jr. offers all sorts of green gadget information. Priced at $19 for the paperback or $12 for your Kindle, learn how to minimize your carbon footprint in an entire section dedicated to your computer including tips for both PCs and Macs. Any one of these top-10 green technology gadgets should be on your gift or wish list—so get out there, spend some money, go green, and be a better earth steward! 6 1 0 0 31 We Also Recommend... * Top 10 Gadgets For Windows 7 * Top Green Computing Tips That Make Economic Sense * Restoring Gadgets In Windows 7 * A Top 5 List Of Latest Electronic Gadgets * Top Five Gadget Blogs Explaining Green Computing written by: Bruce Tyson • edited by: Jean Scheid• updated: 5/10/2011 Green computing is in the news a lot and is often a buzzword at trade shows and sales meetings, but what does the term "green computing" really mean' Here we look at the essential concepts involved with green computing to help readers differentiate between hype and reality. * slide 1 of 6 Defining Green Computing Green computing seeks to minimize the environmental impact of information technologies. This is done by implementing several core concepts that impact products which are deployed in the business environment and how those products are managed. Here we look at core concepts of green computing that help can help form the basis of any environmentally sustainable business model. Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons/NASA * slide 2 of 6 Virtualization By allowing multiple servers to function on a single hardware platform, fewer servers are needed to support the enterprise. Virtualization, therefore, has multiple "green" aspects that help make modern businesses environmentally sustainable. These aspects are as follows: 1. Power conservation. Although servers that host virtualized resources are not necessarily more energy efficient than a standalone server, the reduced number of servers required to support a business or data center reduces power demands by default. 2. Manufacturing. Because fewer servers are required to support modern businesses, this reduces the amount of raw materials that must be extracted from the earth. Additionally, recycled materials can be used in green computing products to induce further reductions in resources required for the manufacturing process. 3. External factors. Some of the benefits of virtualization are incidental with implementation. Fewer physical servers means less space is needed to perform the same functions. This reduces the scope required for buildings, further reducing the footprint of a business on the environment. Virtualization typically reduces IT staffing requirements, taking more commuters and off the road. Virtualization obviously carries enormous potential as a key concept of green computing, making it possible for companies to enjoy enormous cost savings in addition to environmental sustainability. * slide 3 of 6 eWaste and Recycling Greenpeace and other organizations have been instrumental in drawing attention to the adverse affects of discarded computer equipment has had on the earth. Waste has contaminated ground and water in some of the poorest parts of the world, resulting in untold human misery and potentially irreversible damage to the environment. Fortunately, the awareness of the impact of electronic waste has allowed businesses to develop new procedures for recycling that help keep the environment free of toxins while reducing the need for new raw materials in the manufacturing process. Green computing uses recycled materials in the creation of new devices while paving the way for recycling those devices when they reach their end of life. * slide 4 of 6 Conservation The final concept of green computing we mention here is the overall conservation effort. Green computing must use power efficiently, reducing demand over non-green devices. This mandates power management technology that reduces electricity use while devices are idle. The government's Energy Star program has set forth criteria defining power requirements that help define when computing devices are green. Although these requirements may not define the maximum power savings possible, they help IT manufacturers and consumers alike determine what devices may be considered as environmentally friendly. Other concepts involving conservation are also at play. For example, technologies that facilitate telecommuting are green because they help reduce the consumption of fossil fuels by commuting workers and the associated pollution emanating from motor vehicles. * slide 5 of 6 Conclusion Equipment that does not conform to the concepts of green computing mentioned here may not be green at all. To be green, computing devices must have a minimal impact on the environment throughout their life cycle. For example, it is hard to consider power-efficient devices manufactured using environmentally destructive processes to be green indeed. It is, therefore, the responsibility of businesses and consumers to purchase and use equipment that adheres to as many green concepts as possible. * slide 6 of 6 References "Where does e-waste end up'",http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/campaigns/toxics/electronics/the-e-waste-problem/where-does-e-waste-end-up/ "Computer key product data" http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm'c=computers.pr_crit_computers ◄●●●●●●► 10 6 0 0 251 We Also Recommend... * Just What Is Green Computing' * Top Green Computing Tips That Make Economic Sense * Top Green Computing Tips To Help Save Energy * Microsoft Free Journal On Green It * How Much Do You Know About Green It' History of Green Computing, Its Uses, the Necessity and the Future written by: Jean Scheid • edited by: Rebecca Scudder • updated: 11/2/2011 The goal of green computing is simple: reduction in the use of harmful materials, maximize energy efficiency, and promote recyclability. Here, we discuss the concept of green computing and its core ideals in detail, including what it is, why it's needed and some ideas for the future. * slide 1 of 5 Brief History The first step toward the green computing movement was the commencement of the Energy Star program in 1992. This served as a voluntary label that was awarded to computer products that were successful in proving that they used minimum energy while maximizing efficiency. The rating was awarded to monitors, refrigerators, television sets, air conditioners, and other household appliances. The first result of green computing research resulted in the Sleep mode function for computer monitors. This function allows the computer to enter standby mode after a pre-set period passes without any user activity. After this, various concepts like energy cost accounting, thin client solutions, eWaste, and virtualization were developed. * slide 2 of 5 Green IT Green computing is commonly referred to as Green IT. The idea is to ensure the least human impact on the environment. Apart from this, it aims to achieve environmental sustainability. In simple language, green computing is the scientific study of efficient and effective designing, manufacturing, using, disposing, and recycling of computers and computer related products like servers, network systems, communication systems, monitors, USBs, printers, etc. The study uses science to create technologies that help to preserve natural resources and reduce the harmful impact on the environment. * slide 3 of 5 These four pathways focus on various activities such as: Power Management - This feature means conservation of power used by all electrical appliances. Many appliances now come with a power saving/management feature as well. Devices with this feature automatically turn off the power or switch the appliance to a low power state when not being used. Energy Efficient Computing - Computers have a fan / heater-like component inside them. The energy waste of computers is increasing by the day. Unfortunately, not many people are aware of this. Energy waste is leading to a climatic change from burning coal and oil. Learn how to buy an energy-efficient computer. Remediation of Environmental Pollutants - This deals with reducing and removing pollution or contaminants from groundwater, soil, surface water, or sediments. Server Virtualization - This is popularly known as VPS and is commonly used to split the server. The idea is to use one server which connects to many individual computers. This development has been seen in software, technology, and other types of architecture virtualization. Sewage Treatment - This wastewater treatment involves removing of contaminants from waste water and sewage. Various chemical and biological processes are used to remove chemicals and other contaminants. Efficient Disposal/Waste Management - This is the collection, processing, recycling, and disposal of waste materials. Efficient Recycling - Reusing products is much better than letting them stay in landfills. Regulatory Compliance - A strategy must be designed by governments, which would offer rules for curbing waste management, reducing pollution, and stringent penalties for non compliance. Recycling and Water Purification - This is the process of removing all unneeded materials and contaminants from water. The water is then used for drinking or fulfilling specific requirements for medical, chemical and other uses. Green Metrics and Methodology - It is important to quantify sustainability and environmental performance to help reach our goals. Renewable Resources - Use of renewable sources of energy such as solar power and wind to serve purposes like heating, cooking, etc. Eco-Labelling of IT Products - More companies should design their products so they receive the eco-label. Consumers must check for the eco-label before investing their resources in a particular IT product. Thin Client Solutions - Thin client is also known as a lean client solution, and requires computers to depend on another computer or server to function. * slide 4 of 5 Going Green at Work Organizations all over the world are beginning to understand their corporate social responsibility toward the environment. Most companies now believe in conserving energy and power and using environmentally friendly products that help in reducing their carbon footprint. In fact, in many organizations, the need for green computing is put at the top of the agenda. Nowadays, it is imperative for all sized organizations to implement aspects of green computing in their daily workings. Organizations must follow these simple steps for creating the green computing awareness in their workplaces. * Announcing green intentions to all employees. * Setting up a committee to form a green IT plan. * Centralization of all desktops. * Using efficient computer applications. * Power management tactics. * Business performance enhancement. The most common actions organizations have undertaken are: * Virtualization: Virtualization is the consolidation of servers and systems to reduce power consumption and energy utilization. It leads to usage of more than one system on a single piece of physical hardware. This allows for minimum power consumption and maximum cooling. * Power Saving: Industry standards like ACPI design and manufacture computer components in such a way that they result in power controlling and saving. * Telecommuting: Employees working from home reduce the fuel emission created during commuting by vehicles. Moreover, there is reduction in overhead costs on utilities, etc. All of these initiatives result in increased power and energy savings. * VoIP: VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol and results in less telephone wiring and lower costs. * slide 5 of 5 Wrap Up and the Future Green computing is extremely popular. It is not only seen as an organizational responsibility but is also the responsibility that must be undertaken by all computer users. Home computer owners must also resort to green computing practices to make the environment more sustainable. Future trends are also using computers and Living Machines such as the one developed by Worrell Water Technologies, where entire buildings and even municipalities can recycle wastewater for continuous use - all controlled by specially designed computers with a goal toward saving on another precious resource: water! Check out Bright Hub's five-part series on green computing, which covers everything from electronic waste to green grids to VoIP and more. ◄●●●●●► References * Worrell Water Technologies - How Living Machines Work Green Planet / Wikimedia Commons / Chrisbabi / C.C. 3.0 License Planet Green Logo / Wikimedia Commons / Msw1002 / Public Domain Screenshot of Living Machines used by permission from Worrell Water Technologies * Green Computing - Microsoft Research - The Architecture Journal 38 8 1 9 773 We Also Recommend... * Is Cloud Computing Green' * Is Going Green Worth It' * Top Green Computing Tips That Make Economic Sense * A Brief History Of Typography The Green IT Life Cycle in the Home written by: Dan McCarthy • edited by: Carly Smith• updated: 5/17/2012 Do you get lost in all the jargon surrounding Green IT' Or perhaps you have a nagging feeling that just buying an energy efficient laptop isn't enough when it comes to reducing the carbon footprint of home computing' Help is at hand. Find out how you can use the Green IT Life Cycle at home. * slide 1 of 5 Editor's Note: Dan McCarthy writes about Green IT and Corporate Social Responsibility at About Green IT. He conducts business through Verax Consulting, has an MA in Social Anthropology, and plays guitar badly. I've removed the jargon from the Green IT Life Cycle and adapted it for the home. Understanding the life cycle will help you to do two things: reduce the negative impact your computing has on the environment, and save you money in the long term. * slide 2 of 5 The Phases of the Green IT Life Cycle The life cycle has distinct phases. Understanding what happens in each phase will dramatically improve the way you manage the negative environmental impact of your computing. The phases of Green IT are * Mining and Manufacturing ('Build') * Buying and Using * Recycling or Disposal Transportation is also a factor, because it takes place between each phase. Mined materials are transported for refinement and then on to factories. From the factory (perhaps in China, but almost certainly remote from where you are if you're reading this in North America or Western Europe), your newly built computer, phone or tablet is then transported to a warehouse and a retail outlet, and finally to your home. If we add together all of the potential environmental impacts of these activities we can see that the energy used to power our computers once we've bought them is only one isolated factor in the bigger Green IT picture. The total carbon emissions involved in the Green IT life cycle are known as 'embedded emissions'. Socially responsible companies want to reduce these embedded emissions, and so should we. But as we'll see, there are other environmental and even ethical issues involved for the conscious consumer of computing. Let's go through each of the Green IT life cycle phases individually, note the environmental issues at each stage, and how we can challenge them. * slide 3 of 5 The Mining & Manufacturing Phase Different devices use different materials, but one estimate states that a typical PC and monitor contains at least twenty-seven different compound materials and that the semiconductor industry uses more than one thousand hazardous substances. Obviously, energy is consumed in mining and manufacturing which contributes to overall carbon emissions. But there are other issues: much of the mining and manufacturing is carried out in developing countries. Are workers fairly paid and treated' Are mining practices monitored for their impact on the environment' Are hazardous substances controlled' This is the most difficult stage of the Green IT life cycle for us, as individual citizens, to really understand and influence. But there are things we can do. I just Googled the name of a well-known computer manufacturer plus 'sustainability policy'. It took me all of thirty seconds to find out that they appear to take their commitments in this area seriously and have policies on: * Including their suppliers in the environmental strategy * Minimizing waste and using recyclable materials in manufacture * Continual assessment of environmental impact However, there is no policy statement on the fair treatment of workers, an issue which has recently bedevilled Apple. Nor is there any evidence or guarantee that these policies are being carried out - but at least it's a start, and if we as consumers dig a little deeper, we can find a lot of detail about the working practices of the technology companies we patronize. * slide 4 of 5 The Buying & Using Phase Things are more straightforward when it comes to buying and using computers. But there are several issues to consider: * Is it the right time to buy new' New computing devices are becoming more and more energy efficient. There comes a point when it makes sense to invest in a more modern PC or laptop. But remember that when you but the new device you are also buying its embedded emissions. If you are running out of storage or processing power, try to prolong the life of your PC by using cloud services such as Dropbox, Google Drive or Amazon Cloud Drive. * Do I need the biggest and most powerful computer' This is where cloud computing services come in again. Over the next few years we expect a trend towards smaller, lighter and less powerful computers. Why' Because they can use the processing power and storage of servers and applications that are in the cloud. * How can I choose the most energy efficient PC or other device' There are different standards across the world, but the EPEAT and Energy Star certifications are good places to start for Green IT purposes. * How can I operate my computing equipment efficiently' There are a few good practices you can follow. First, use the power management facility of your PC to make sure you are conserving energy where possible. Second, always switch off computers when in use. After closing down, switch off at the power socket, as most power adaptors (and rechargers) continue to draw power even when the device is switched off or not attached. Also, make sure there is a good air flow where you are working so that less energy is consumed by your device in keeping itself cool. * What about energy sources' An issue that big companies are addressing is the quality (and not just volume) of the energy they use. In the home, this equates to using energy companies committed to sustainable energy generation, or to using your own solar-powered energy generation. * slide 5 of 5 The Recycling or Disposal Stage: A Green IT Challenge The recycling of computing devices is a potentially massive problem, and is a vitally important Green IT phase. Because many of the materials used are toxic, it's vital that landfill disposal is avoided. In landfills, materials leach into the soil and eventually find their way into water supplies. In the past there have also been problems with dumping computing and other electronic waste in developing countries where it is often dangerously burned or left to pollute water supplies. Here are some options on what to do: * Reuse your old computer in your own home. If your processor and storage aren't up to all the jobs you want it to do, you could use it just for a single task such as word processing or web browsing. * Find a new home for your PC. There are lots of websites that have set up exchange schemes for old PCs. You can also try local schools and charities. On the internet you can find hundreds of organisations who need old PCs or specialize in recycling them. * Wipe your data before disposal! Make sure you have permanently deleted your personal details from your computer before recycling. See this resource for more advice. * Use a reputable disposal facility. If all else fails, find a reputable disposal and recycling facility. Your local authority may have details of how and where you can dispose of electronic equipment. ◄●●●●●► References * Photo of home network by karindalziel under CC BY 2.0 * Photo of computer parts by Qfamily under CC BY 2.0 2 13 0 0 82 We Also Recommend... * The Benefits Of Green Construction * An Introduction To Green Computing And Sustainable Development * Preschool Activities On The Life Cycle Of A Frog * Relationship Between Carbon Footprint And The Green House Effect * Science Projects For Third Grade: The Plant Life Cycle The Definition of Green Computing: What it Means and How It Helps to Save Energy written by: jeorl • edited by: Bill Bunter • updated: 8/12/2010 What is green computing' Here we define the term and how new computing technology and practices help to cut energy costs, reduce carbon emissions, and prevent electronic waste. * slide 1 of 4 Defining Green Computing It seems like everyone nowadays is “going green.” The commitment to live a greener lifestyle is noble, however it seems as if many people throw the term around without having a grasp of what going green actually means. One way that people can actually make good on their commitment to go green is through green computing efforts. In order to make this decision, it is important to first understand what green computing actually is. Green computing can be defined as the environmentally responsible use of computers and their resources. Now what this exactly means needs a bit more explanation. Using computers and their resources in an eco-friendly and responsible way can be broken down into two categories; reduction in the power consumption of a computer and its resources, and a reduction in the amount of e-waste that is produced by a computer and its resources. * slide 2 of 4 Reducing Power Consumption It is easy to understand how a reduction in power use help green your computing practices. Like any other power saving techniques you may employ, reducing the power consumption of you computers and technology lessens the amount of resources used to produce energy and reduces the amount of waste that is released into the environment as a result of burning fuels for energy. In this respect, green computing can be defined as saving energy by managing your computer resources effectively. * slide 3 of 4 Preventing Electronic Waste Reducing e-waste, on the other hand, takes a bit more explanation. Nowadays, people don’t purchase a first computer for their home or company. Instead, their computer and technology purchases are to replace something that is outdated or not working. Electronic waste comes as a result of these old, outdated, broken components. For the most part, these computers, monitors, printers, and other devices are thrown into the dumpster or left out for the garbage collector to pick up. When this is the case, toxins from all the internal parts of the device eventually work their way into the soil and groundwater supplies causing a great deal of contamination. Making a practice of green computing as it pertains to e-waste would be defined as properly disposing of computers and hardware. * slide 4 of 4 24 1 0 2 115 We Also Recommend... * The Business Of Going Green * Top Green Computing Tips That Make Economic Sense * Just What Is Green Computing' * An Introduction To Green Computing And Sustainable Development * A Guide To Top Energy Saving Tips For The Home An Introduction to Green Computing and Sustainable Development written by: franceslaing • edited by: Jean Scheid• updated: 7/13/2010 What is the anticipated impact of green computing' In 1987 the UN Environment Commission defined sustainable development as, "development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." This gold standard presents a challenge. * slide 1 of 4 Can Green Computing Become Truly Sustainable' With the impact of climate change, comes the anticipated impact of green computing, hence the urgent need to reduce the carbon emissions produced by the information technology industry. Global carbon emissions from information and communications technologies are estimated as being roughly equal to those of the airline industry. Why' A massive amount of electricity is needed to operate computers, search engines, and peripheral equipment. The manufacture of a computer chip can generate up to 4,500 times it's own weight in waste. Then there's the pressure of consumer demand. People want the latest, the smartest and the fastest technology. We do not yet know how far consumer attitudes will change the anticipated impact of green computing. (See also: Myths and Realities of Green Computing). * slide 2 of 4 Cutting Carbon Emissions Astute managers have long since learned cutting carbon emissions means creating a leaner, greener, more efficient operation. In the early days we saw simple, yet effective education messages like: "Think twice before you print out emails," and "Switch off your computer when you go home at night." Later came more sophisticated measures like Energy Star (See: Definitions in Green Computing). Well-informed companies are now likely to have entire departments devoted to cutting electricity consumption, and carbon emissions. Information technology systems can account for up to 30% of a company's electricity bills, so some companies start their improvements with a reality check. They review their utility bills, carry out an energy walk, and calculate their carbon footprint. The Carbon Trust is a not-for-profit organization specializing in advice for businesses. In a best practice partnership with the British computing society the trust has developed a simulation software tool to help companies understand energy use within data centers. A British computing society spokesperson said, "The scale of the problem is worrying. Forecasts based on the current growth of data and associated IT infrastructure translates into a picture of unsustainable power consumption in the long term and power supply capacity issues in the short term. It is crucial that we make effective tools available to enable companies to identify the right steps to take to reduce energy use and carbon." * slide 3 of 4 Developing a Strategic Approach to a Green Future With the challenges of climate change, peaking oil prices, and a double-dip recession looming, businesses and individuals urgently need to adopt precautionary principles and learn from best practices if they are to lend vision to the anticipated impact of green computing. The U.S. Environment Protection Agency (EPA) has highlighted the need to compare and select equipment based on environmental attributes using the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool known as EPEAT. The EPA even has an in-house blog called Greenversations. In this blog, employees on the ground share their expertise in saving energy and green computing. The EPA Green IT unit stresses the importance of "e-cycling." Used electronic products can be refurbished and passed on to charities like Computer Aid International. There are many countries and organizations that are dealing with the anticipated impact of green computing and this short introduction to green computing and sustainable development provides only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to reducing our carbon footprint in the computing world. * slide 4 of 4 Resources 1. "The Secret Life of everyday things" - The book and the blog: http://bentobjects.blogspot.com/ 2. The Carbon Trust. (An independent not-for-profit company set up by the U.K. government which operates on several continents) - www.carbontrust.co.uk 3. U.S. Environment Protection Agency "Tips for e-cycling" 4. Computer Aid International - http://www.computeraid.org/ Image Credit: 65 Myr Climate Change (Robert A Rohde) Wikimedia Commons ◄●●●●► Green computing and the triple 'crunch' With the credit, climate and energy crisis (the triple 'crunch') - we are challenged by the need to reduce carbon emissions and improve the way we use energy-intensive information technologies. What is the anticipated impact of green computing'This series offers positive and educational insights 1. An Introduction to Green Computing and Sustainable Development 2. Green IT and Sustainability 3. Can Photovoltaic Solar Panels Power a Computer Lab' 0 0 0 0 122 We Also Recommend... * Green It And Sustainability * Green Vacations: Gap Adventures * Baltix Sustainable Furniture * Earning A Bachelor'S Degree In Sustainability * Top Green Business Practices: Is Your Company Using Them' Myths and Realities of Green Computing written by: Finn Orfano • edited by: Bill Bunter • updated: 5/6/2010 Computer technology is continuously evolving and there are some dedicated companies that are actually searching for environment-friendly alternatives. It becomes essential to understand the myths and realities regarding green computing. * slide 1 of 4 Green revolution in the world of computers has become the buzzword across green blogs/sites dedicated to the cause of promoting eco-friendly computing. Agreed, that this increased environmental awareness is a welcome change and green computing can make a substantial contribution. However, many myths have been created regarding the practical execution of green computing methods. Computer technology is continuously evolving and there are some dedicated companies that are actually searching for environment-friendly alternatives. But in contrast to their honest efforts, there are many computing vendors that are merely trying to peddle their goods. In such cases, green computing is restricted only to the realm of sales pitches. Therefore, it becomes essential to understand the myths and realities regarding green computing. Following are some of the most common misconceptions regarding green computing technologies, along with explanations and sensible alternatives: * slide 2 of 4 Myth: Being ‘Paperless’ Means Being Green Reality— this is perhaps the most widespread myth that most people fail to comprehend. The term ‘paperless office’ was used with the advent of web-centric offices and it was believed that by dumping physical use of paper, businesses and people were actually making a contribution to the cause of the environment. It is generally believed that through this paper-free approach people are saving the trees and hence, assisting in environment conservation. Folks who are harping about the paper-free advantages of the computing environment fail to realize that in the current scenario, the use of computers is actually increasing the demands on the ecosystem. Want a Custom PPT Template for Your Biz' We’ll Do it For You! How' The reason lies in the increasing energy demands that are being created due to computerized environments. To a normal PC user, it isn't very apparent, but the fact is that PCs tend to heat-up the environment in a workplace. As a result, more energy-sapping solutions are being sought in the form of installations such as heaving air-conditioning devices at workplaces. Further, a PC itself isn't the more power-efficient gadget that has been invented. This is also the challenge faced by innovative vendors who are trying to promote greener PCs, i.e. those with reduced power-consumption patterns — such eco-friendly computing technologies aren't cheap to develop and hence, have limited marketability. Alternatives There are simple methods of developing a PC environment that actually reduces the consumption of power and is greener: * Purchase computers that are Energy Star–compliant — this is just one of the many certifications that can differentiate authentic, low power-consuming systems from the rest * Use flat-screen monitors that use substantially lesser energy than CRTs. Similarly, laptop models are known to use lesser energy than the conventional desktop models * Use darker backgrounds on the screen as they use slightly lesser power than brighter displays * Try to read/review documents and e-mails rather than printing them * slide 3 of 4 Myth: Turning-Off The Computer Means Consuming More Power Reality— somehow, a perception has been created among PC users that repeatedly turning the computer on/off harms the computer’s electronic pathway. Further, it is believed that there is a lot of power sucked-in every time the PC is switched on. This ideology is beyond the scope of any scientific theory. Manufacturers themselves believe that there aren't any noticeable harms that are caused to the circuits of a PC on being periodically switched on/off. Obviously, it doesn't make sense to switch-off your PC for every moment that you are going to be away from the desk, but leaving it on for substantial periods of time, based upon a detrimental supposition just doesn’t make sense. * slide 4 of 4 Myth: Screen Savers and Idling Computers Use Lesser Energy Reality— the term ‘saver’ doesn't mean use of lesser energy in any way. However, a screen saver can still affect a computer's performance. The use of power even with screen savers is at par or may be even a bit more than a system that is being actively used. Similarly, idling computers use as much energy. Just because someone isn't actually using it doesn't translate into the PC sapping lesser electrical energy. Alternatives The reality is that there a number of practical ways that can be combined with switching-off the PC to make the entire PC-using experience greener. Try the following tips: * Use surge protectors for plugging-in your computer — this device has a master control point that is able to sense when the PC is not being used and cuts the power after a certain period of inactivity * Plan computer-related functions which will enable you to use the PC in a more organized manner and hence the very need of switching the computer off is negated to a large extent * Use the Standby/Sleep mode more often to ensure that you waste minimum electricity Perhaps, the biggest myth is regarding the entire approach to green computing — some folks believe that the efforts of an individual aren't worthy of making a substantial effect to the cause of conserving the environment. Unless, this mistaken perception is resolved, the best of green computing efforts can deliver very little utility. ◄●●●●► 3 0 0 0 20 We Also Recommend... * Top Green Computing Tips That Make Economic Sense * An Introduction To Green Computing And Sustainable Development * Pangya Review * Can I Remove A Virus Using System Restore * Sorting Through The Myths, Rumors, Facts, And Rhetoric Associated With Global Warming Green Computing Brings Environmental Benefits and More written by: ciel s cantoria • edited by: Rebecca Scudder • updated: 5/11/2011 The benefits of green computing have transcended beyond the minimal effects of portable & handheld computing devices. Green IT technologies & other computing initiatives have enabled people from all over the world to interact as one global community without worsening the CO2 emissions & the E-wastes * slide 1 of 7 Interacting in a Global Economy Through Green Computing Green computing has drawn people from all over the world into becoming one global community. Businesses have become more dynamic, while friends and families from all over the world are kept even closer. Almost everyone has benefited from all that can be shared and transmitted in real time with less environmental aggravation, which is contrary to what was previously feared. During the 1997 International Energy Efficiency Appliance Conference, Dr. Alan Meier from, Lawrence National Berkeley Laboratory, announced that standby energy used by computers accounts for 1 percent of the world’s carbon emissions. As a matter of fact, the U.S. alone accounts for more than 97 billion pounds of carbon dioxide that goes into the atmosphere every year. Studies have shown that almost half of the electrical energy drawn out of the wall by a typical desktop computer is being wasted because energy hardly reaches the processor, the hard drives, the memory disks and other peripherals. Now, consider the advent and use of Energy Star-compliant computers, the availability of smaller amd thinner monitors for less energy consumption, and the surge protectors which automatically cut-off power that is not in use. They may have minimal effects as stand-alone equipment, but if multiplied by the millions of users on a global scale, these green computing technologies reduce electrical energy consumption and likewise lessen CO2 emissions Super computers, data centers, and servers have greater impacts on the environment compared to the desktop PCs. Yet they are able to operate in our midst by harnessing green technologies and make possible better business and working conditions like telecommuting, offshore outsourcing and paperless meetings. All of which are geared toward maintaining and sustaining the advantages of green computing for a better environment on a global scale. Image Credit: Everaldo Coelho and YellowIcon for Wikimedia Commons * slide 2 of 7 A Closer Look at Green Computing Technologies and Their Positive Impact 1. Green computing helps minimize CO2 emissions by using green technology and IT systems that harness renewable energy sources, instead of drawing out power from fossil-fueled electric grids. Focus your attention on the enormous data centers that consume as much as 150 watts per square foot in a typical 9,000 square foot structure with three storey levels. In fact, economists called them “energy hogs” and their estimates foretell of increasing CO2 emissions four-fold by 2020. Computer giants in the industry currently utilize greener resources and harness green technology to lessen if not minimize their carbon footprint. IBM and its “Aquasar” Cooling System- The closed circuit cooling system has an energy efficiency of about 450 megaflops per watt while the system uses hot water to reduce the power consumption of the supercomputer stationed at the "Swiss Federal Institute Technology Zurich". The thermal power contributes additional energy of nine kilowatts to the building’s heating system. As a note, megaflop is the unit of measurement for computer speed, stated as: “A million floating point operations per second”. HP Labs Data Center in a Dairy Farm – Rural areas are where animal manure power is abundant and HP Labs Design is utilizing a "Farm Waste Data Center Ecosystem". This refers to a farm of 10,000 cows that provide methane gas to power up a typical modern data center and the dairy farm. In addition, the data centers help the other rural famers get rid of their farm wastes. Google’s Sustainable Operations – Google, which thrives on data centers is well-known for being at the forefront of advocating the benefits of green computing.The company's data centers rely on Google-designed edifices that utilize only half the energy used by a typical data center. Accordingly, the energy used per Google search consumes only about 0.0003 kWh with roughly about 0.2g of CO2 emission. Google is out to prove that sustainability in energy use is possible and is quite active in encouraging other data centers to do the same, Please proceed to the next page for the benefits that can be derived from green computing initiatives. * slide 3 of 7 Know the best practices in using green computer technologies and consider them as your tips on how to benefit from green computing. Harnessing renewable energy, and using only recyclable computers, components and green gadgets, are only a few of the ways you can contribute to lessen the carbon emissions and the e-wastes that degrade and destroy our natural environment. Appreciate their energy-efficiency not as a single unit but by being counted among the millions being used on a global scale. * slide 4 of 7 Green Computing Initiatives for a Better Environment 2. There are also the green initiatives being implemented and imposed on computer manufacturers as a means to eliminate the production of more e-wastes that deplete, degrade and spoil the environment. Accordingly, each pound of computer generates about two pounds of electronic discards and it comprises 70% of all hazardous wastes present in the environment. These are generated by conventional computers whose manufacturers make use of lead for soldering, selenium in circuit boards and power supply, mercury to illuminate backlights, cadmiums in semi-conductors, and not to forget the manufacture of micro-chips that make use of some of the most potent gases like arsine, chorine, phosgene and silane. The Take-Back System - Some of these materials have not been eliminated since alternative materials could affect the efficiency of the computer. In order to resolve this issue, the "take-back" practice is now in place as a way of abating the mounting electronic wastes that flood the landfills. Under the take-back programs, computer manufacturers are giving incentives as a way to encourage their consumers to give back their electronic wastes. That way, the hazardous materials in their computers can be recycled or repurposed to ensure proper waste management. The Phaseout of PVCs and BFRs- Most computer manufacturers are making good on their commitments to phase-out products with PVC plastics and BFR, while PVC/BFR-free electronic devices have been introduced in the global markets. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and its use in computers for insulation and coating for electrical cable wires have been phased-out by most computer manufacturers. Recycling is not an option because PVCs tend to leach and contaminate even indoor environments. Brominated flame retardants or BFRs have also been phased-out. Formerly, these materials were added to components in order to inhibit accidental ignition and to retard the combustion. Its mere presence in the environment is said to be capable of bioaccumulating in animals and humans, as their emissions are released by industrialized areas, particularly those that produce electronic products. * slide 5 of 7 Tips for Sustaining the Advantages of Green Computing Below are some quick and simple tips that can help sustain the benefits of green computing: * Ascertain that the product is genuinely green: Check if the gadget has an EPEAT or Energy Star rating, which denotes that the product meets the requirements for green certifications. Invest only in recycled/recyclable computers, components and peripherals: Read reviews and feedback from consumer organizations that advocate green products. Look for those that make of use sustainable low impact methods and materials. Some examples include die cutting processes, non-toxic white glue and non-toxic flame retardants. * Use devices that can store renewable energy: Harness charging devices that make use of solar power, designed for portable and home use. There are also the rechargeable batteries, but stay away from those that are alkaline-based. The most recent developments in rechargeable batteries use lithium-titanium, considered as safer and have longer life cycles. * Reduce standby power consumption: Use power strips that instantly turn-off electronic equipment that tends to remain idle for a specific period of time. . * Adjust PC settings by turning down the brightness and contrast settings of PC monitors as this can reduce electrical wastes in power consumption. * Green printing: Avoid printing and reading documents on the PC screen. If you have to print, reduce the settings to 300 dots-per-inch and print on both sides. Consider refilling ink cartridges,soy-based inks or toners and eco-fonts as greener alternatives. Image Credit: Reinraum for Wikimedia Commons * slide 6 of 7 Summary: Many have foretold that globalization would increase power consumption by several folds and that it will result to more CO2 emissions. Yet the advent of green computer technologies brought forth global communications which made possible the success of going-green campaigns for earth-friendly initiatives. As a result, the use of computers has lessened the environmental aggravation caused by excessive energy use and mounting e-wastes. In addition, the realization of globalization is considered as one of the most important benefits of green computing, because it paved the way for world wide interaction through energy-efficient and cost-effective global communications. * slide 7 of 7 References: * By Firth, Simon: The cow-powered data center Copyright: 2011 Hewlett Packard Development Company, L.P. http://www.hpl.hp.com/news/2010/apr-jun/wastefordatacenter.html * IBM Hot Water-Cooled Supercomputer Goes Live at ETH Zurich- Press Release July 02 2010 - http://www-03.ibm.com/press/us/en/pressrelease/32049.wss ◄●●●●●●●► 23 12 0 4 232 We Also Recommend... * America'S Best Green Festivals And Fairs * Resources For Training Your Employees To Adopt Green Strategies * Environmentally-Friendly Interior Design * What Is Epeat' * How Green Computing Can Benefit Schools Benefits of Green Computing As energy crisis deepens and the resources deplete, we need to seriously think about making substantial changes in our lifestyle for energy conservation. Green computing is one way of dealing with the energy crisis. It is possible to reduce carbon emissions, save energy and protect the environment as a whole with this approach. Quick Fact!Vampire power is the term used in reference with consumption of electricity by electronic devices while they are in the stand-by or switched-off mode. Green computing is the practice of using computers and related technology in an environmentally responsible manner. It aims at radically changing the way we go about computing, using the electronic devices and following strict energy conservation guidelines, so as to minimize the damage caused to the environment by computers. This activity is not just limited to saving electricity, but also takes a holistic approach towards environment-friendly use of computers. Devising innovative and environment-conscious techniques for energy generation is also one of its aspects. Advantages of Green Computing There are many innovative technologies and tools which make green computing a viable option for judicious energy usage and environmental conservation. The advantages offered by such technologies are discussed in these points. Cloud ComputingTouted as a technology that could save substantial amount of energy, cloud computing involves replacing regular servers with the virtual ones. The different areas where cloud computing finds application include data storage, networking, operating systems, software applications. As per studies conducted by the WSP Environment & Energy, it is possible to save as much as 90% of the energy spent in a company of 100 employees. The AT&T-supported Carbon Disclosure Project reported that big US corporations can save as much as $12.3 billion (by the year 2020) if they resort to the use of cloud computing; server utilization too can be increased up to 80%. RecyclingThrough this practice, we can save precious energy, time and money spent in manufacturing these electronic items. Resources used and money spent in manufacturing an electronic item from scratch are far greater than those needed for recycling it. Even in developed countries like USA, only a small percentage of discarded or used electronic items are recycled. France, which is said to be an ecology-responsible country collects only 14% of the e-waste generated in the country. Thus, there is a great scope for recycling electronic items and thereby, preventing environmental damage. Conservation of environmental resources, electricity and money can be achieved through this simple-to-implement step. Turning Your Computers OffThe practice of switching off computers at night helps in saving a considerable amount of energy. The estimated amount of energy spent in a single year due to round-the-clock use of computer is $115-$160 (Schneider, 2008). Running your computer just 8 hours a day can help save 810 kWh energy on an annual basis. It is a myth that turning the computer off can damage it. Computers are designed for sustaining around 40,000 on/off cycles. Therefore, you need not worry about the computer even if you have to turn it off on a regular basis. The power supplied to scanners and printers should be cut off whenever these devices are not in use. This practice can also save a considerable amount of energy. Improving Algorithmic EfficiencyGreen computing measures can be used for improving the algorithmic efficiency of computers. An efficient algorithm makes minimum use of resources. Therefore, the productivity increases manifold. A simple computing activity like searching for information on a search engine can have an adverse impact on the environment owing to the energy consumed and CO2 emitted in the process. Thus, without improving the algorithmic efficiency, one cannot expect much in terms of energy conservation even from cloud computing. Architectural ChangesRemodeling the IT architecture that is currently used should prove to be beneficial in the long term. It is not just about following a set of best practices, but also about overhauling the architecture as a whole. A strategy needs to be devised for the development of sustainable technology. This approach is not limited to changing architecture of data centers. In fact, business operations, IT facilities, communications and many other aspects of computer usage need to be taken into account. For example, one can reduce the number of systems being used and increase their efficiency. It is kind of a long-term approach in which the currently used "green" initiatives might change with time. However, the underlying idea of reducing energy consumption and causing minimum damage to the environment remains the same. Merely adding to the density of virtual servers also won't help much. In fact, increasing the rack density through virtualization would necessitate the installation of cooling systems, which again increases the cost and energy consumption. Changes in the architectural designs will increase the accessibility to sophisticated technologies that cause minimum harm to our planet's resources. TechnotrashCommonly referred to as electronic waste, technotrash refers to the toxic elements that are found inside electronic goods. Therefore, the disposal of such kind of waste has to be carried out with proper care. Action Plan for Green Computing Using ENERGY STAR qualified products help in energy conservation. The Climate Savers Computing Initiative (CSCI) catalog can be used for choosing green products. Organic light-emitting diodes should be used instead of the regular monitors. Surge protectors offer the benefit of green computing by cutting off the power supply to peripheral devices when the computer is turned off. Donating your old computers and other peripherals can reduce the rate of e-waste creation. Moreover, those who cannot afford to buy a computer can benefit from such donations. Through proper disposal of computers and its accessories, it is possible to reduce environmental pollution. It was expected that computers would help reduce paper wastage. However, even today wastage of paper is a serious issue in industries. The easy availability of photocopiers and printers is also one of the culprits behind unchecked paper wastage. Think twice before using printers. Use the device only if it is necessary. The manufacturing of disks and boxes needed for video games takes up a lot of resources. Video game manufacturers can offer their games online for download, leading to reduction in e-waste. This move can cut down on the transportation/shipping cost. Use of 'Local Cooling' software can help in monitoring and thereby, bringing down the energy consumed by your computer. This 'Windows' program makes adjustments to the power options of your computer and helps minimize energy consumption. Here are few more points pertaining to green computing which will give you some food for thought. In countries like USA, emission of greenhouse gases resulting from the generation of electricity is quite high. The total volume of gases emitted through electricity generation is much higher in comparison to that from vehicles. In such a scenario, saving electricity becomes a high priority. Thus, green computing can play a major role in protecting the environment through electricity conservation in developed countries. Till recently, the drive to protect the environment was limited only up to certain areas like saving fuels, reducing carbon emissions, etc. However, green computing adds a new dimension to the movement aimed at protecting the environment. Taking up the cause of green computing should encourage engineers and designers to create innovative and energy efficient computer models. For example, a company like Google Inc. was able to minimize energy consumption significantly. They were able to decrease the energy consumption to a level of 50% of the industry average. The most important benefit offered by green computing is that you can influence and motivate a large number of people and make them aware of environmental issues. The reason why it can play a major role in environmental conservation is that computers are items of day-to-day use; while using them, people would constantly be reminded of their responsibility towards the environment. Thus, apart from offering actual benefits of green computing, all these practices would motivate computer users to find new ways and new areas where they can implement green measures for energy conservation. By Shashank NakatePublished: 10/15/2012 Ads by GoogleTop Virtual Call Centers 2012 Top 8 Virtual Call Center Software. Get The Essential Guide. Business-Software.com/CallCenterApps on Google Play Get your favorite Android apps from your phone, tablet or web instantly play.google.comGet Paid $90 Per Survey' Easy Money At Home - Try It Now! Take Surveys and Get Paid (Free) SurveyMoneyMachines.comMaterial Takeoffs in PDF Free Trial. Area, length, counts. Add formulas for estimating costs. www.Bluebeam.com/TakeoffNext Generation Cmty Mgmt Drill-down, dashboard-driven Condo/HOA management software www.topssoft.comWin $5000 A Week For Life Enter To Win PCH's $5K/week Today. Change Your Family's Life Now! www.PCH.com/sweepstakesLog Into Your Email Access Your Email Faster w/ Instant Notifications! Install Free inbox.com/MailCom Don't Miss Going Green Facts Different Types of Computers Uses of Computers Computer Devices for the Physically Challenged Ten Commandments of Computer Ethics More From Buzzle What are the Main Parts of a Computer' Personal Computer (PC) Facts Interesting Computer Facts Importance of Computer Ethics Forward Slash Vs. Backslash What is Processor Cache Sustainable Living Ideas Tips for Eco Friendly Living Read more at Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/benefits-of-green-computing.html Green computing From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search Green computing, green IT or ICT Sustainability, refers to environmentally sustainable computing or IT. In the article Harnessing Green IT: Principles and Practices, San Murugesan defines the field of green computing as "the study and practice of designing, manufacturing, using, and disposing of computers, servers, and associated subsystems—such as monitors, printers, storage devices, and networking and communications systems — efficiently and effectively with minimal or no impact on the environment."[1] The goals of green computing are similar to green chemistry; reduce the use of hazardous materials, maximize energy efficiency during the product's lifetime, and promote the recyclability or biodegradability of defunct products and factory waste. Many corporate IT department have Green Computing initiatives to reduce the environmental impacts of their IT operations.[2] Research continues into key areas such as making the use of computers as energy-efficient as possible, and designing algorithms and systems for efficiency-related computer technologies. Contents[hide] * 1 Origins * 2 Regulations and industry initiatives * 2.1 Government * 2.2 Industry * 3 Approaches * 3.1 Product longevity * 3.2 Data center design * 3.3 Software and deployment optimization * 3.3.1 Algorithmic efficiency * 3.3.2 Resource allocation * 3.3.3 Virtualizing * 3.3.4 Terminal servers * 3.4 Power management * 3.4.1 Data center power * 3.4.2 Operating system support * 3.4.3 Power supply * 3.4.4 Storage * 3.4.5 Video card * 3.4.6 Display * 3.5 Materials recycling * 3.6 Telecommuting * 4 Education and certification * 4.1 Green computing programs * 4.2 Green computing certifications * 4.3 Blogs and Web 2.0 resources * 5 See also * 6 References * 7 External links | [edit] Origins Energy Star logo In 1992, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency launched Energy Star, a voluntary labeling program that is designed to promote and recognize energy-efficiency in monitors, climate control equipment, and other technologies. This resulted in the widespread adoption of sleep mode among consumer electronics. Concurrently, the Swedish organization TCO Development launched the TCO Certification program to promote low magnetic and electrical emissions from CRT-based computer displays; this program was later expanded to include criteria on energy consumption, ergonomics, and the use of hazardous materials in construction.[3] [edit] Regulations and industry initiatives The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has published a survey of over 90 government and industry initiatives on "Green ICTs", i.e. information and communication technologies, the environment and climate change. The report concludes that initiatives tend to concentrate on the greening ICTs themselves rather than on their actual implementation to tackle global warming and environmental degradation. In general, only 20% of initiatives have measurable targets, with government programs tending to include targets more frequently than business associations.[4] [edit] Government Many governmental agencies have continued to implement standards and regulations that encourage green computing. The Energy Star program was revised in October 2006 to include stricter efficiency requirements for computer equipment, along with a tiered ranking system for approved products.[5][6] There are currently 26 US states that have established state-wide recycling programs for obsolete computers and consumer electronics equipment.[7] The statutes either impose an "advance recovery fee" for each unit sold at retail or require the manufacturers to reclaim the equipment at disposal. In 2010, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) was signed into legislation by President Obama. The bill allocated over $90 billion to be invested in green initiatives (renewable energy, smart grids, energy efficiency, etc.) In January 2010, the U.S. Energy Department granted $47 million of the ARRA money towards projects that aim to improve the energy efficiency of data centers. The projects will provide research on the following three areas: optimize data center hardware and software, improve power supply chain, and data center cooling technologies.[8] [edit] Industry * Climate Savers Computing Initiative (CSCI) is an effort to reduce the electric power consumption of PCs in active and inactive states.[9] The CSCI provides a catalog of green products from its member organizations, and information for reducing PC power consumption. It was started on 2007-06-12. The name stems from the World Wildlife Fund's Climate Savers program, which was launched in 1999.[10] The WWF is also a member of the Computing Initiative.[9] * The Green Electronics Council offers the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) to assist in the purchase of "greener" computing systems. The Council evaluates computing equipment on 51 criteria - 23 required and 28 optional - that measure a product's efficiency and sustainability attributes. Products are rated Gold, Silver, or Bronze, depending on how many optional criteria they meet. On 2007-01-24, President George W. Bush issued Executive Order 13423, which requires all United States Federal agencies to use EPEAT when purchasing computer systems.[11][12] * The Green Grid is a global consortium dedicated to advancing energy efficiency in data centers and business computing ecosystems. It was founded in February 2007 by several key companies in the industry – AMD, APC, Dell, HP, IBM, Intel, Microsoft, Rackable Systems, SprayCool, Sun Microsystems and VMware. The Green Grid has since grown to hundreds of members, including end-users and government organizations, all focused on improving data center infrastructure efficiency (DCIE). * The Green500 list rates supercomputers by energy efficiency (megaflops/watt, encouraging a focus on efficiency rather than absolute performance. * Green Comm Challenge is an organization that promotes the development of energy conservation technology and practices in the field of Information and Communications Technology (ICT). * The Transaction Processing Performance Council(TPC) Energy specification augments the existing TPC benchmarks by allowing for optional publications of energy metrics alongside their performance results.[13] * The SPEC Power is the first industry standard benchmark that measures power consumption in relation to performance for server-class computers. [edit] Approaches In the article Harnessing Green IT: Principles and Practices, San Murugesan defines the field of green computing as "the study and practice of designing, manufacturing, using, and disposing of computers, servers, and associated subsystems — such as monitors, printers, storage devices, and networking and communications systems — efficiently and effectively with minimal or no impact on the environment."[1] Murugesan lays out four paths along which he believes the environmental effects of computing should be addressed:[1] Green use, green disposal, green design, and green manufacturing. Green computing can also develop solutions that offer benefits by "aligning all IT processes and practices with the core principles of sustainability, which are to reduce, reuse, and recycle; and finding innovative ways to use IT in business processes to deliver sustainability benefits across the enterprise and beyond".[14] Modern IT systems rely upon a complicated mix of people, networks, and hardware; as such, a green computing initiative must cover all of these areas as well. A solution may also need to address end user satisfaction, management restructuring, regulatory compliance, and return on investment (ROI). There are also considerable fiscal motivations for companies to take control of their own power consumption; "of the power management tools available, one of the most powerful may still be simple, plain, common sense."[15] [edit] Product longevity Gartner maintains that the PC manufacturing process accounts for 70% of the natural resources used in the life cycle of a PC.[16] More recently, Fujitsu released a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of a desktop that show that manufacturing and end of life accounts for the majority of this laptop ecological footprint.[17] Therefore, the biggest contribution to green computing usually is to prolong the equipment's lifetime. Another report from Gartner recommends to "Look for product longevity, including upgradability and modularity." [18] For instance, manufacturing a new PC makes a far bigger ecological footprint than manufacturing a new RAM module to upgrade an existing one. [edit] Data center design Data center facilities are heavy consumers of energy, accounting for between 1.1% and 1.5% of the world’s total energy use in 2010 [1]. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that data center facilities consume up to 100 to 200 times more energy than standard office buildings.[19] Energy efficient data center design should address all of the energy use aspects included in a data center: from the IT equipment to the HVAC equipment to the actual location, configuration and construction of the building. The U.S. Department of Energy specifies five primary areas on which to focus energy efficient data center design best practices:[20] * Information technology (IT) systems * Environmental conditions * Air management * Cooling systems * Electrical systems Additional energy efficient design opportunities specified by the U.S. Department of Energy include on-site electrical generation and recycling of waste heat.[19] Energy efficient data center design should help to better utilize a data center’s space, and increase performance and efficiency. [edit] Software and deployment optimization [edit] Algorithmic efficiency Main article: Algorithmic efficiency Further information: Analysis of algorithms The efficiency of algorithms has an impact on the amount of computer resources required for any given computing function and there are many efficiency trade-offs in writing programs. Algorithm changes, such as switching from a slow (e.g. linear) search algorithm to a fast (e.g. hashed or indexed search algorithm can reduce resource usage for a given task from substantial to close to zero. A study by a physicist at Harvard, estimated that the average Google search released 7 grams of carbon dioxide (CO₂).[21] However, Google disputes this figure, arguing instead that a typical search produces only 0.2 grams of CO₂.[22] More recently, an independent study demonstrated that Windows 7 + Office 2010 required 70 times more memory (RAM) than Windows 98 + Office 2000 (the dominant word processing platform of 10 years ago) did to write exactly the same text or send exactly the same e-mail.[23] [edit] Resource allocation Main article: Resource allocation Algorithms can also be used to route data to data centers where electricity is less expensive. Researchers from MIT, Carnegie Mellon University, and Akamai have tested an energy allocation algorithm that successfully routes traffic to the location with the cheapest energy costs. The researchers project up to a 40 percent savings on energy costs if their proposed algorithm were to be deployed. However, this approach does not actually reduce the amount of energy being used; it reduces only the cost to the company using it. Nonetheless, a similar strategy could be used to direct traffic to rely on energy that is produced in a more environmentally friendly or efficient way. A similar approach has also been used to cut energy usage by routing traffic away from data centers experiencing warm weather; this allows computers to be shut down to avoid using air conditioning.[24] Larger server centers are sometimes located where energy and land are inexpensive and readily available. Local availability of renewable energy, climate that allows outside air to be used for cooling, or locating them where the heat they produce may be used for other purposes could be factors in green siting decisions. [edit] Virtualizing Main article: Platform virtualization See also: Comparison of platform virtual machines Computer virtualization refers to the abstraction of computer resources, such as the process of running two or more logical computer systems on one set of physical hardware. The concept originated with the IBM mainframe operating systems of the 1960s, but was commercialized for x86-compatible computers only in the 1990s. With vitualization, a system administrator could combine several physical systems into virtual machines on one single, powerful system, thereby unplugging the original hardware and reducing power and cooling consumption. Virtualization can assist in distributing work so that servers are either busy or put in a low-power sleep state. Several commercial companies and open-source projects now offer software packages to enable a transition to virtual computing. Intel Corporation and AMD have also built proprietary virtualization enhancements to the x86 instruction set into each of their CPU product lines, in order to facilitate virtual computing. [edit] Terminal servers Main article: Terminal server Terminal servers have also been used in green computing. When using the system, users at a terminal connect to a central server; all of the actual computing is done on the server, but the end user experiences the operating system on the terminal. These can be combined with thin clients, which use up to 1/8 the amount of energy of a normal workstation, resulting in a decrease of energy costs and consumption.[citation needed] There has been an increase in using terminal services with thin clients to create virtual labs. Examples of terminal server software include Terminal Services for Windows and the Linux Terminal Server Project (LTSP) for the Linux operating system. [edit] Power management Main article: Power management The Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI), an open industry standard, allows an operating system to directly control the power-saving aspects of its underlying hardware. This allows a system to automatically turn off components such as monitors and hard drives after set periods of inactivity. In addition, a system may hibernate, where most components (including the CPU and the system RAM) are turned off. ACPI is a successor to an earlier Intel-Microsoft standard called Advanced Power Management, which allows a computer's BIOS to control power management functions.[citation needed] Some programs allow the user to manually adjust the voltages supplied to the CPU, which reduces both the amount of heat produced and electricity consumed. This process is called undervolting. Some CPUs can automatically undervolt the processor, depending on the workload; this technology is called "SpeedStep" on Intel processors, "PowerNow!"/"Cool'n'Quiet" on AMD chips, LongHaul on VIA CPUs, and LongRun with Transmeta processors. [edit] Data center power Data centers, which have been criticized for their extraordinarily high energy demand, are a primary focus for proponents of green computing.[25] Data centers can potentially improve their energy and space efficiency through techniques such as storage consolidation and virtualization. Many organizations are starting to eliminate underutilized servers, which results in lower energy usage.[26] The U.S. federal government has set a minimum 10% reduction target for data center energy usage by 2011.[25] With the aid of a self-styled ultraefficient evaporative cooling technology, Google Inc. has been able to reduce its energy consumption to 50% of that of the industry average.[25] [edit] Operating system support The dominant desktop operating system, Microsoft Windows, has included limited PC power management features since Windows 95.[27] These initially provided for stand-by (suspend-to-RAM) and a monitor low power state. Further iterations of Windows added hibernate (suspend-to-disk) and support for the ACPI standard. Windows 2000 was the first NT-based operating system to include power management. This required major changes to the underlying operating system architecture and a new hardware driver model. Windows 2000 also introduced Group Policy, a technology that allowed administrators to centrally configure most Windows features. However, power management was not one of those features. This is probably because the power management settings design relied upon a connected set of per-user and per-machine binary registry values,[28] effectively leaving it up to each user to configure their own power management settings. This approach, which is not compatible with Windows Group Policy, was repeated in Windows XP. The reasons for this design decision by Microsoft are not known, and it has resulted in heavy criticism.[29] Microsoft significantly improved this in Windows Vista[30] by redesigning the power management system to allow basic configuration by Group Policy. The support offered is limited to a single per-computer policy. The most recent release, Windows 7 retains these limitations but does include refinements for more efficient user of operating system timers, processor power management,[31][32] and display panel brightness. The most significant change in Windows 7 is in the user experience. The prominence of the default High Performance power plan has been reduced with the aim of encouraging users to save power. There is a significant market in third-party PC power management software offering features beyond those present in the Windows operating system.[33][34][35] available. Most products offer Active Directory integration and per-user/per-machine settings with the more advanced offering multiple power plans, scheduled power plans, anti-insomnia features and enterprise power usage reporting. Notable vendors include 1E NightWatchman,[36][37] Data Synergy PowerMAN (Software),[38] Faronics Power Save[39] and Verdiem SURVEYOR.[40] [edit] Power supply Desktop computer power supplies (PSUs) are in general 70–75% efficient,[41] dissipating the remaining energy as heat. A certification program called 80 Plus certifies PSUs that are at least 80% efficient; typically these models are drop-in replacements for older, less efficient PSUs of the same form factor. As of July 20, 2007, all new Energy Star 4.0-certified desktop PSUs must be at least 80% efficient.[42] [edit] Storage Smaller form factor (e.g., 2.5 inch) hard disk drives often consume less power per gigabyte than physically larger drives.[43][44] Unlike hard disk drives, solid-state drives store data in flash memory or DRAM. With no moving parts, power consumption may be reduced somewhat for low-capacity flash-based devices.[45][46] In a recent case study, Fusion-io, manufacturer of solid state storage devices, managed to reduce the energy use and operating costs of MySpace data centers by 80% while increasing performance speeds beyond that which had been attainable via multiple hard disk drives in Raid 0.[47][48] In response, MySpace was able to retire several of their servers. As hard drive prices have fallen, storage farms have tended to increase in capacity to make more data available online. This includes archival and backup data that would formerly have been saved on tape or other offline storage. The increase in online storage has increased power consumption. Reducing the power consumed by large storage arrays, while still providing the benefits of online storage, is a subject of ongoing research.[49] [edit] Video card A fast GPU may be the largest power consumer in a computer.[50] Energy-efficient display options include: * No video card - use a shared terminal, shared thin client, or desktop sharing software if display required. * Use motherboard video output - typically low 3D performance and low power. * Select a GPU based on low idle power, average wattage, or performance per watt. [edit] Display CRT monitors typically use more power than LCD monitors. They also contain significant amounts of lead. LCD monitors typically use a cold-cathode fluorescent bulb to provide light for the display. Some newer displays use an array of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) in place of the fluorescent bulb, which reduces the amount of electricity used by the display.[51] Fluorescent back-lights also contain mercury, whereas LED back-lights do not. [edit] Materials recycling Main articles: Electronic waste , computer recycling , and Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive Recycling computing equipment can keep harmful materials such as lead, mercury, and hexavalent chromium out of landfills, and can also replace equipment that otherwise would need to be manufactured, saving further energy and emissions. Computer systems that have outlived their particular function can be re-purposed, or donated to various charities and non-profit organizations.[52] However, many charities have recently imposed minimum system requirements for donated equipment.[53] Additionally, parts from outdated systems may be salvaged and recycled through certain retail outlets[54][55] and municipal or private recycling centers. Computing supplies, such as printer cartridges, paper, and batteries may be recycled as well.[56] A drawback to many of these schemes is that computers gathered through recycling drives are often shipped to developing countries where environmental standards are less strict than in North America and Europe.[57] The Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition estimates that 80% of the post-consumer e-waste collected for recycling is shipped abroad to countries such as China and Pakistan.[58] In 2011, the collection rate of e-waste is still very low, even in the most ecology-responsible countries like France. In this country, e-waste collection is still at a 14% annual rate between electronic equipments sold and e-waste collected for 2006 to 2009.[59] The recycling of old computers raises an important privacy issue. The old storage devices still hold private information, such as emails, passwords, and credit card numbers, which can be recovered simply by someone's using software available freely on the Internet. Deletion of a file does not actually remove the file from the hard drive. Before recycling a computer, users should remove the hard drive, or hard drives if there is more than one, and physically destroy it or store it somewhere safe. There are some authorized hardware recycling companies to whom the computer may be given for recycling, and they typically sign a non-disclosure agreement.[60] [edit] Telecommuting Main article: Telecommuting Teleconferencing and telepresence technologies are often implemented in green computing initiatives. The advantages are many; increased worker satisfaction, reduction of greenhouse gas emissions related to travel, and increased profit margins as a result of lower overhead costs for office space, heat, lighting, etc.[61] The savings are significant; the average annual energy consumption for U.S. office buildings is over 23 kilowatt hours per square foot, with heat, air conditioning and lighting accounting for 70% of all energy consumed.[62] Other related initiatives, such as hotelling, reduce the square footage per employee as workers reserve space only when they need it.[63] Many types of jobs, such as sales, consulting, and field service, integrate well with this technique. Voice over IP (VoIP) reduces the telephony wiring infrastructure by sharing the existing Ethernet copper. VoIP and phone extension mobility also made hot desking more practical. [edit] Education and certification [edit] Green computing programs Degree and postgraduate programs that provide training in a range of information technology concentrations along with sustainable strategies in an effort to educate students how to build and maintain systems while reducing its negative impact on the environment. The Australian National University (ANU) offers "ICT Sustainability" as part of its information technology and engineering masters programs.[64] Athabasca University offer a similar course "Green ICT Strategies",[65] adapted from the ANU course notes.[66] In the UK, Leeds Metropolitan University offers an MSc Green Computing program in both full and part-time access modes.[67] [edit] Green computing certifications Some certifications demonstrate that an individual has specific green computing knowledge, including: * Green Computing Initiative - GCI offers the Certified Green Computing User Specialist (CGCUS), Certified Green Computing Architect (CGCA) and Certified Green Computing Professional (CGCP) certifications.[68] * CompTIA Strata Green IT is designed for IT managers to show that they have good knowledge of green IT practices and methods and why it is important to incorporate them into an organization. * Information Systems Examination Board (ISEB) Foundation Certificate in Green IT is appropriate for showing an overall understanding and awareness of green computing and where its implementation can be beneficial. * Singapore Infocomm Technology Federation (SiTF) Singapore Certified Green IT Professional is an industry endorsed professional level certification offered with SiTF authorized training partners. Certification requires completion of a four day instructor-led core course, plus a one day elective from an authorized vendor.[69] * Australian Computer Society (ACS) The ACS offers a certificate for "Green Technology Strategies" as part of the Computer Professional Education Program (CPEP). Award of a certificate requires completion of a 12 week e-learning course, with written assignments.[70] [edit] Blogs and Web 2.0 resources There are a lot of blogs and other user created references that can be used to gain more insights on green computing strategies, technologies and business benefits. A lot of students in Management and Engineering courses have helped in raising higher awareness about green computing.[71] [edit] See also | Sustainable development portal | | Energy portal | | Environment portal | * Camara (charity) (Ireland) * Challenging the Chip, a book about labor rights and environmental justice in the global electronics industry * Desktop virtualization * Data migration * Digger gold * e-cycling * eDay, an electronic waste collection day in New Zealand * California Electronic Waste Recycling Act * Energy Efficient Ethernet * Energy consumption of computers in the USA * IEEE 1680 * Interconnect bottleneck * IT energy management * Minimalism (computing) * Optical communication * Optical fiber cable * Optical interconnect * Parallel optical interfaceICT Sustainability * Plug computer * Power factor * Power usage effectiveness (PUE) * Rebound effect (paradoxical negative effect) * Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive (RoHS) * Standby power * Sustainable Electronics Initiative (SEI) * Time-sharing * Thunderbolt (interface) * Trashware * Virtual application [edit] References 1. ^ a b c San Murugesan, “Harnessing Green IT: Principles and Practices,” IEEE IT Professional, January–February 2008, pp 24-33. 2. ^ E. Curry, B. Guyon, C. Sheridan, and B. Donnellan, “Developing a Sustainable IT Capability: Lessons From Intel’s Journey,” MIS Quarterly Executive, vol. 11, no. 2, pp. 61–74, 2012. 3. ^ "TCO takes the initiative in comparative product testing". 2008-05-03. http://www.boivie.se/index.php'page=2&lang=eng. Retrieved 2008-05-03. 4. ^ Full report: OECD Working Party on the Information Economy. "Towards Green ICT strategies: Assessing Policies and Programmes on ICTs and the Environment". http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/47/12/42825130.pdf. Summary: OECD Working Party on the Information Economy. "Executive summary of OECD report". http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/46/18/43044065.pdf. 5. ^ Jones, Ernesta (2006-10-23). "EPA Announces New Computer Efficiency Requirements". U.S. EPA. http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/a8f952395381d3968525701c005e65b5/113b0c0647fee41585257210006474f1!OpenDocument. Retrieved 2007-09-18. 6. ^ Gardiner, Bryan (2007-02-22). 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[edit] External links * Green IT Factsheet by the University of Michigan's Center for Sustainable Systems [hide] * v * t * eEnvironmental technology | | | | * Appropriate technology * Environmental design * Environmental impact assessment * Sustainable development * Sustainable technology | | | | | Pollution | * Air pollution (control * dispersion modeling) * Industrial ecology * Solid waste treatment * Waste management * Water (agricultural wastewater treatment * industrial wastewater treatment * sewage treatment * waste-water treatment technologies * water purification) | | | | | Renewable energy | * Alternative energy * Efficient energy use * Energy development * Energy recovery * Fuel (alternative fuel * biofuel * carbon negative fuel * hydrogen technologies) * Renewable energy (commercialization) * Sustainable energy * Transportation (electric vehicle * hybrid vehicle) | | | | | Conservation | * Birth control * Building (green * natural * sustainable architecture) * Conservation biology * Conservation ethic * Ecoforestry * Environmental preservation * Environmental remediation * Green computing * Permaculture * Recycling | | | Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php'title=Green_computing&oldid=518655088" View page ratings Rate this page Rate this page Page ratings What's this' Current average ratings. Trustworthy Objective Complete Categories: * Sustainable technologies * Computers and the environment Bottom of Form * This page was last modified on 19 October 2012 at 07:22. * Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. See Terms of Use for details. Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization. Green PC Computer Technology Buying a green desktop or laptop computer with a smaller impact on the environment is a trendy, feel-good choice that can pay off in savings the long run. Victoria Anisman-Reiner Posted on Mar 7, 2010 Green Computer Technology Delivers on its Promises - PPDigital, Morguefile.com "Going green" is a hot trend today – and it's one that can pay dividends not only by lessening the environmental impact of technology, but in the amount of money that a green desktop or laptop computer may cost to run in the long term. What's Better About a Green Computer' Green computers or eco PCs are a great way to go for anyone who wants to replace an older computer model that's no longer useful. Just like anything else, there are a variety of different features being offered on newer green desktops, laptops, monitors and other computer hardware: Post-consumer materials: Many of the latest models are made using post-consumer materials – plastics, metals, and more that have been recycled from other products. These parts are just as durable, but don't require new resources to make. Lower energy consumption: The biggest appeal of most green PCs is their energy efficiency. Most new desktops, laptops, and monitors are being designed to use less power more efficiently, saving the environment and saving users money. Smaller carbon footprint and less waste: Producing green technology may have a smaller impact on the earth than making conventional computers in terms of greenhouse gas emissions, waste and pollution emitted into the environment, and resources saved by using post-consumer materials. Some computer makers will also take back old computers to recycle them and dispose of waste materials safely. Refurbished parts or computers: Another way to "go green" is to purchase a used or refurbished computer rather than a new model, if your computing needs allow it. Choosing a refurbished desktop or laptop is cost-efficient, and it saves an older computer from being thrown on the scrap heap before it's time is really up. Which Green PC Brands Are Best' Where are the best places to find green computers' At first glance, it might seem easy to buy one anywhere that PCs are sold. Most stores and brands offer environmentally-friendly choices… but be careful of being taken in by misleading advertising. Many of the so-called Eco PCs on shelves are not as environmentally-friendly as their makers would have consumers believe, so it's worth taking a few minutes to check out what third-party groups have to say about green technology and greenwashing. Greenpeace is one such group and is well known for its scathing criticism of "green" technology that doesn't live up to its makers' promises. Greenpeace offers green computer consumer reports that rank different brands based on their features and on the company's use or disposal of toxic materials. These reports, and criticism of them, can be found online, and they're a good place to start. For those who are really committed to going green, take the time to read up on various computers' features and compare reviews of the power savings offered by various models. It's time well-spent in finding a green laptop or desktop that will serve well in years to come. Sources: * Greenpeace, "How the companies line up," Greenpeace.org, January 2010. 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