2.3 CURRENT SCENARIO/LATEST TENDS IN GREEN COMPUTING

A Canadian company, Useful Inc. (www.userful.com) have come up with a solution that turns 1 computer into 10 – Discover Station. Quickly becoming the standard for green computing worldwide, Discover Station leverages the unused computing power of modern PC’s to create an environmentally efficient alternative to traditional desktop computing. Multiple users can work on a single computer by simply attaching up to 10 monitors, mice and keyboards. This makes it possible to reduce CO2 emissions by up to 15 tons per year per system and reduce electronic waste by up to 80%. Useful has recently stated that in the last year their software has saved over 13,250 tons of CO2 emissions, the equivalent of taking 2,300 cars off the road.

Problems of Electronic Waste

Electronic waste is an increasing problem globally due to the quick obsolescence of electronics, which make up a staggering 70% of all hazardous waste. Computer waste is high in many toxic materials such as heavy metals and flame-retardant plastics, which easily leach into ground water and bio-accumulate. In addition, chip manufacturing uses some of the deadliest gases and chemicals known to man and requires huge amounts of resources.

In an average year 24 million computers in the United States become obsolete. Only about 14% (or 3.3 million) of these will be recycled or donated. The rest - more than 20 million computers in the U.S. -- will be dumped, incinerated, shipped as waste exports or put into temporary storage to be dealt with later. We never stop to consider what happens when our laptop dies and we toss it. The reality is that it either rots in a landfill or children in developing countries end up wrestling its components apart by hand, melting toxic bits to recover traces of valuable metals like gold.

Wasting Electricity

The manufacturing of a computer consumes 1818 kw/h of electricity before it even gets turned on and when running, a typical computer uses 120 watts. Research shows that most PC’s are left idle all day, and many of them are left on continuously. Every time we leave computers on we waste electricity without considering where that electricity comes from. The majority of the world’s electricity is generated by burning fossil fuels which emit pollutants such as sulphur, and carbon dioxide into the air. These emissions can cause respiratory disease, smog, acid rain and global climate change.

2.2 HISTORY OF GREEN COMPUTING

figure 2.2

In 1992, the Environmental Protection Agency United States launched the Energy Star, a voluntary labeling program designed to promote and recognize energy efficiency in monitors, climate control equipment, and other technologies. This resulted in widespread adoption of sleep mode among consumer electronics. The term "green computing" may be created immediately after the Energy Star program began, there were several USENET posts since until 1992 the use of the term this way. At the same time, Swedish organization TCO Development launched TCO certification program to promote the release of low magnetic and electric than CRT-based computer display, the program was later expanded to include criteria on energy consumption, ergonomics, and the use of hazardous materials in construction.

2.1 DEFINITION OF GREEN COMPUTING

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Green computing is the environmentally responsible and eco-friendly use of computers and their resources. In a broader way, it is also defined as the study of designing, manufacturing/engineering, using and disposing of computing devices in a way that reduces their environmental impact.

Many IT manufacturers and vendors are continuously investing in designing energy efficient computing devices, reducing the use of dangerous materials, and encouraging the recyclability of digital devices and printing paper. Green computing practices were primarily introduced by the Environmental Protection Agency in 1992 with the launch of the Energy Star program.it also known as green IT.

Explanation about green computing

Green computing or green IT aims to attain economic viability and improve the way computing devices are used. Green IT practices include working towards environmentally sustainable production practices, energy efficient computers and improved disposal and recycling procedures.

To promote green computing concepts at all possible levels, the following four complementary approaches are employed:

• Green Use: Minimizing the electricity consumption of computers and their peripheral devices and using them in an eco-friendly manner.
• Green Disposal: Making over an existing computer or appropriately disposing of or recycling unwanted electronic equipment.
• Green Design: Designing energy-efficient computers, servers, printers, projectors and other digital devices.
• Green Manufacturing: Minimizing waste during the manufacturing of computers and other subsystems to reduce the environmental impact of these activities.

Government regulatory authorities are also actively working to promote green computing concepts by introducing several voluntary programs and regulations for their enforcement.

1.2 DISADVANTAGES OF CARBON FOOTPRINT

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Electricity generation and transportation-related activities account for well over half of the 14 percent increase in greenhouse gas emissions in the United States from 1990 to 2008. The Federal Transit Administration estimates that switching to public transportation instead of driving would allow the average American to reduce his or her carbon footprint by 10 percent. Americans could also reduce their collective carbon footprint by changing their incandescent bulbs to compact fluorescent lights, preventing the emission of 9 billion pounds of greenhouse gases.

Climate Change

Climate change is the ultimate effect of large carbon footprints. Greenhouse gases, whether natural or human-produced, contribute to the warming of the planet. From 1990 to 2005, carbon dioxide emissions increased by 31 percent. By 2008, the emissions had contributed to a 35 percent increase in radiative warming, or a shift in Earth's energy balance toward warming, over 1990 levels. The decade from 2000 to 2009 was the warmest decade on record worldwide, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Climate Change Indicators Report.

Depletion of Resources

Large carbon footprints deplete resources on large and small scales, from a country's deforestation activities to one home's increased use of air conditioning. The more those with large carbon footprints use resources, the more greenhouse gases increase and spur further climate change. The Environmental Protection Agency suggests that consideration of different energy supplies and conservation of current ones will be needed to balance energy demand. Reducing carbon dioxide emissions as much as possible and off-setting the remaining emissions by planting trees, for example, or supporting alternative energy efforts, will help to reduce the negative effects of carbon footprints

1.1 DEFINITION OF CARBON FOOTPRINT

figure1.1

A carbon footprint is a measure of the impact our activities have on the environment, and in particular climate change. It relates to the amount of greenhouse gases produced in our day-to-day lives through burning fossil fuels for electricity, heating and transportation etc.

diagram 1.1

The pie chart above shows the main elements which
make up the total of an typical person's carbon footprint in the developed world.