This article is highlighting on how we can actually contribute in saving the environment by proper use of the home or office computing by adopting Green Computing. To achieve this, everybody needs to be aware of how much energy being wasted through the usage of computing facilities and how these wastage impacts the environment and us. Energy saving tip to promote the awareness of how each individual can help to achieve the goal of greener planet will be shared.

Steps taken by information technology industry and other organizations to help environment will be
highlighted. The scope will cover all individuals, whether he/she uses home or office facilities. Also covers from normal home PC user to Corporate Server System Administrator. Computing technology not only covers the hardware but also the software application and how the technology being used.

Letting everybody be aware on how we can help our environment by cutting down the power consumption of their Computing facilities. The greatest challenge will be making people aware of the environment issues and help them aware on what they can do to change. Whether we are at home or in the office, reducing power consumption will help us reduce power costs and reduce the impact to our environment. By having the basic concept of reducing power consumption will not only helps us to reduce the impact to our environment and educating the public now will help our future generations.

1. Why do we need to go “Green”?
With more than six billion people using all earth natural resources in their daily activities, it would be a matter of time when the resources are used up. And with current environmental issues such as Green House Gases, Global Warming, Rise of Sea Level, Ozone Depletion and Climate change, major steps need to be taken to reduce the natural resource consumption and their environmental impact.

Adopting “Green” should be part of individual responsibilities or Organization’s Corporate Social Responsibilities to minimize the rate of consumption of earth’s natural resources for the future generations. Going green is also economically viable and for some countries adopting “Green” has been mandated.

2. What is currently being done?
Currently studies and practices on Renewable, Recycling, Green Purchasing and Green Car currently help to reduce the rate of consumption. These studies and practices also help to reduce the emission of Green House Gases which contribute to the environmental issues. Environmental legislation, Guidelines, Policies and even international Protocol (Kyoto Protocol, Montreal Protocol, etc) have been initiated as one of the solutions in the environmental issues.

3. What is “Green Computing?”
“Green Computing” is the study and practice of using computing resources efficiently. Typically technological systems or computing products that incorporate green computing principle take into account the so-called triple bottom line of economic viability, social responsibility, and environmental impact. This differs somewhat from traditional or standard business practices that focus mainly on the economic viability of computing solution.

4. Why Computing?

Power station is one of the biggest contributors to Green House Gases and has a great impact to the environmental issues. Computing resources is one big consumer of the power generated by the power station. Computing is one of the fastest growing commodities and it is everywhere, at homes, small or big businesses, schools and universities. Some houses have even more than one computer. They are used for all the activities from word processing to designing a house. An average computer operates on 200W and it is estimated that the CO2 emissions of the Computing industry alone exceeds the carbon output of the entire aviation industry. Also, waste produce from computing resources (e-waste) has become one of the biggest contributors to growing size of dumping fields and poses a major disposal issue due to the hazardous materials found in computing resources components.

5. What else can we do?
Adopt the practices into the organization Policy will be a strong commitment by an organization to reduce the environmental impact of the organization through the computing activities. Offsetting carbon foot prints by planting trees to compensate the power consumed by the computing activities. This is especially good for our environment as a computer today, can consume up to 200W of power, and even with power saving modes enabled, this can still result in emissions of almost 220Kg of CO2 per year.  In one year, an average tree inhales 12 kilograms (26pounds) of CO2 and exhales enough oxygen for a family of four for a year.
Educating others on environmental issues and sharing techniques on reducing the impact is the best way to contribute to reduction of the environmental impact.

6. Summary
Most of the issues on how to implement “Green Computing” have been practiced in one way or another. It is our responsibility as an individual or an organization to actually make the changes and educating others about the changes. With small changes it will eventually help change the bigger issue (Environmental Issues) and help to protect the availability of the natural resources for future generations. The less we consume the greener or planet earth gets. “A Greener Planet with Green Computing”

Source: the Institution of Engineering & Technology