Green Computin

GREEN COMPUTING

Green Computing or Green IT refers to environmentally sustainable computing or IT. It is "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. Green IT also strives to achieve economic viability and improved system performance and use, while abiding by our social and ethical responsibilities. Thus, green IT includes the dimensions of environmental sustainability, the economics of energy efficiency, and the total cost of ownership, which includes the cost of disposal and recycling. It is the study and practice of using computing resources efficiently. Green computing is the environmentally responsible use of computers and related resources. Such practices include the implementation of energy-efficient CPUs, servers and peripherals as well as reduced resource consumption and proper disposal of electronic waste (e-waste). One of the earliest initiatives toward green computing in the United States was the voluntary labeling program known as Energy Star. It was conceived by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1992 to promote energy efficiency in hardware of all kinds. The Energy Star label became a common sight, especially in notebook computers and displays Government regulation, however well-intentioned, is only part of an overall green computing philosophy. The work habits of computer users and businesses can be modified to minimize adverse impact on the global environment. Here are some steps that can be taken: • • • • • • • • •

Power-down the CPU and all peripherals during extended periods of inactivity. Try to do computer-related tasks during contiguous, intensive blocks of time, leaving hardware off at other times. Power-up and power-down energy-intensive peripherals such as laser printers according to need. Use liquid-crystal-display (LCD) monitors rather than cathode-ray-tube (CRT) monitors. Use notebook computers rather than desktop computers whenever possible. Use the power-management features to turn off hard drives and displays after several minutes of inactivity. Minimize the use of paper and properly recycle waste paper. Dispose of e-waste according to federal, state and local regulations. Employ alternative energy sources for computing workstations, servers, networks and data centers.

Approaches to green computing Virtualization 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. Power supply Desktop computer power supplies (PSUs) are generally 70–75% efficient, dissipating the remaining energy as heat. Storage Smaller form factor (e.g. 2.5 inch) hard disk drives often consume less power per gigabyte than physically larger drives. 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. Even at modest sizes, DRAM-based SSDs may use more power than hard disks. Flash based drives are generally slower for writing than hard disks. Display 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. Materials recycling Computer systems that have outlived their particular function can be repurposed, or donated to various charities and non-profit organizations.Computing supplies, such as printer cartridges, paper, and batteries may be recycled as well. Telecommuting Teleconferencing and telepresence technologies are often implemented in green computing initiatives. The advantages are 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. The savings are significant.Other related initiatives, such as hotelling, reduce the square footage per employee as workers reserve space only when they need it. Many types of jobs -- sales, consulting, field service integrate well with this technique.