Green Computing or Green IT is an eco-friendly approach that starts with material selection & design to manufacturing until usage and disposal.
You may ask, why this requirement arises and what is the actual definition of green computing?
Nowadays, everyone is using computing devices in one or another form and inefficient disposal of obsolete IT equipment causes huge e-waste generation which is harmful to the environment.
Also, data centers need an enormous amount of power to operate their servers for maintaining the data and the energy requirements have been growing steadily in recent years.
But do you think that the concept of Green computing revolves only around waste and power reduction?
The answer is no as it goes much beyond that.
Green computing supports sustainability with only one motto- ” Reduce, Reuse & Recycle“.
Looking like a complex subject and you are unable to decide from where to start?
Don’t worry, you cannot go after each issue at once.
You just identify one mission that is most relevant to you and start working on that.
In this way, you can achieve something better for yourself, your organization, and your environment.
Now let’s discuss Green computing meaning in a detailed way.
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What is Green Computing [Definition & Examples]
Do you know that computing and related technologies account for more than 2% of all global GHG emissions?
One can not deny the fact that information technology has drastically improved our work and life but it is contributing to certain environmental problems that nobody realizes.
In order to promote green information technology, we must ask ourselves some questions like:-
- Which IT issues are responsible for environmental degradation?
- What are its impacts?
- How information technology can improve sustainability?
So green computing definition goes like this;
| Green computing is a sustainable approach in the design, manufacture, use, and disposal of IT resources (monitors, printers, storage systems, networking equipment, etc.) in an efficient manner so that it has minimal impact on the environment. |
Sustainable computing is not only about the creation of energy-efficient IT systems such as software or hardware but also about its applications in various fields.
Green IT can help in creating sustainable business processes, leveraging environmental initiatives, and spreading green awareness to reduce energy consumption & overall GHG emissions.
It consists of all the relevant software, hardware, tools, strategies, and best practices that will improve and promote environmental sustainability.
Sustainable computing is our future, that’s why some bachelors and masters degree program includes it as a major subject in their curriculum.
Hence we can say that by adopting green computing practices we can achieve a healthier environment without compromising our current and future technological requirements.
| More to Read! |
History of Green Computing
Let us take you back to the early 90s era when computers were big and power intensive.
You can not imagine how much power they consume at that time.
This is because they never sleep even if they are left idle for a long time.
In short, there was no energy management, sleep, or hibernation mode which allows power saving in computing devices.
Considering the above problems, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) came up with an innovative labeling program in the year 1992 called Energy Star.
The energy star program laid the basic foundation of green computing by promoting energy-efficient monitors, temperature control devices, televisions, and other related technologies.
Computers and other electronics started adopting sleep mode where equipment can be put on the stand-by mode in the absence of any user activity.
This resulted in huge energy savings and a considerable reduction in potential CO2 emissions.
As per energy star, certified computing devices use 25% – 40% less energy than other conventional models due to the effective usage of efficient components and better energy management.
So, How can you determine whether your computer has energy star certification?
It’s very simple as every energy Star-certified computer must have a blue-colored Energy Star logo on it.
What is the Importance of Sustainable Computing?
Information technology affects our environment in many different ways.
Every stage, starting from production and use until disposal presents multiple environmental issues.
Today everyone needs computers in their daily life which saves a lot of time and effort.
This large number of computing equipment generates a lot of heat and consumes an enormous amount of power.
What do you think, where this leads to?
Yes, you’ve guessed it right, it will ultimately go to the environment as greenhouse gases (CO2) resulting in global warming.
Please refer to the graph below which shows global C02 emissions for various computing devices (note PCs are the highest contributor))
The parts of computing equipment are made from certain toxic components such as lead, mercury, and Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs).
These are non-biodegradable and inefficient packing & disposal methods pose a serious threat to the environment.
The growing number of computers, their usage along with frequent replacements and disposal is a major concern for our environment.
Considering these factors green computing helps us to:-
- Reduce Hazardous material usage
- Maximize Energy efficiency
- Promote Recyclability
- Device efficient disposal methods
- Reduce carbon footprint
- Reduce GHG emissions
- Save money due to reduced utility cost
How Green Computing can Overcome current Environmental Concerns?
Sustainable computing addresses various eco-friendly approaches that can overcome the concerns raised by the IT industry.
What are these sustainable approaches?
Let’s have a look, These are:-
1. Eco-friendly Design
This is the first step which involves designing energy-efficient and environment-friendly components for computing systems
2. Green Manufacturing with Sustainable Raw Materials
Usage of green materials and optimized processes for manufacturing IT components & associated subsystems with minimal or no impact on the environment.
3. Green Usage
This is achieved by reducing energy consumption, optimizing cooling efficiency, and using computing equipment in an environment-friendly manner.
4. Eco-Friendly Disposal
Avoid non-scientific disposal by proper recycling of IT components in a safe and eco-friendly way.
Instead of disposal try donating, reusing, and refurbishment.
5. Green Standards & Policies
These standards will help to promote, compare, and benchmark various products and services.
6. Green Awareness
This is the most important approach that entails sustainable development and encourages environmental awareness in society.
Sustainable Computing: Advantages & Disadvantages
Advantages of Green Computing
1. Sustainable computing means reduced energy consumption that leads to reduced GHG emissions and fossil fuel usage.
2. Green computing is cost-effective due to less energy usage & cooling requirements.
3. Sustainable IT helps in the preservation and effective utilization of natural resources.
4. It encourages reuse and recyclability that will result in a lesser number of electronic wastes.
5. Green IT uses non-toxic components which do not pose any health hazard to the end-users.
6. It causes a considerable reduction in the quantity of heat produced from computing devices.
7. Sustainable computing inspires people to reduce, reuse, and recycle.
8. Green IT implementation helps in improving the public image of an individual or an organization.
Disadvantages of Green Computing
1. The initial implementation is costly.
2. Frequent change in technology
3. Green IT cause more burden to an individual
4. The disparity in the level of understanding across various companies, professionals, and end-users.
5. Fewer courses and publications related to green computing
How You Can Support Green Computing?
We can make small changes at our end that will help in reducing the burden on our environment.
Here are some steps that one can take to support green computing:-
1. Use energy star-labeled products.
2. Turn off your computing devices when not in need.
3. Use an Optimal brightness level to conserve power.
4. Use your printers, scanners, webcams, and other associated IT peripherals only when required
5. Screen savers consume power so do not use them.
6. Purchase IT equipment from environmentally committed companies only.
7. Don’t discard your computing devices rather donate or recycle them.
8. Print only when required, use both side printing, and use only recycled paper.
9. Use sleep mode or hibernate features when not using computers for a short time.
10. Purchase hardware that is less energy-intensive. For example, SSD consumes less power than HDD.
11. Rather than purchasing a new pen drive or external hard disk try to move your data to cloud servers.
12. Enable the power management feature on your computing devices.
13 Use e-mail as the main communication rather than a memo or fax.
14. Don’t print your drafts but review them on the screen itself.
15. Buy non-petroleum-based inks for your printers which are less hazardous.
16. Use Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology to reduce the wiring infrastructure and metallic wastes.
17. Replace old CRT and LCD monitors with efficient OLED monitors.
18. Participate in electronic recycling programs.
19. Look for green Packaging solutions.
20. Don’t buy new printer cartridges else recycle and refill them.
Conclusion
Various IT organizations in the world started adopting green computing practices and it has now become the main part of their day-to-day business activities.
In India IT giant Wipro has already launched its eco-friendly series of computing systems called greenware.
Samsung, Apple, and other IT companies have their own successful recycling programs.
By adopting green computing practices we can get an eco-friendly environment, along with other benefits such as cost reduction, energy conservation, and waste minimization.
Now it’s our turn, we must understand the importance of green computing and work collaboratively for a healthier and greener environment for our future generations.
What do you think about Green computing? Please provide your comments below and share this article to help others.
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References:
- Harnessing Green IT, Principles & Practices by San Murugesan & G.R. Gangadharan, Wiley Publication
- Kontagora, Ibrahim. (2017). GREEN COMPUTING: TECHNOLOGIES, APPLICATIONS, AND CHALLENGES.
- Tiwari, Shobhit. (2011). Need of Green Computing Measures for Indian IT Industry. Journal of Energy Technologies and Policy. 1. 18-24.
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