Green Computing

Green Computing

Introduction

Technology has eased and facilitated a number of specific and daily routine tasks for human beings. However, on the other hand, technology has also been the reason behind a number of environmental issues and problems. Manufacturing, using and disposing numerous equipment and devices has been known to disturb various ecological factors. One of such significant technology that has been a solution to many problems however also been the root cause of various issues is the computer technology. There is no doubt in saying that the computer and all the related technology and devices in the recent times have now become a necessity rather than a luxury. In order meet the needs and requirements, students, doctors, engineers, businesses, army, navy in short individuals belonging to every walk of life uses computer for communitarian and information retrieving purposes. Hence, this only refers to the exponential increase in the number of computers on the planet. The situations led several experts to think about the criticalness of the situation and hence the concept of green computing was introduced.

Discussion

Green computing, ICT Sustainability or green IT can simply be regarded as the IT or computing that ensures and promotes a sustainable environment. Several experts defines the discipline of green or IT computing as the theory , practice and learning that includes effectively and efficiently designing, manufacturing, using, repairing and most importantly the disposing of the computers, the servers, and several associated subsystems that includes monitors, storage devices, printers, and also communications and networking systems [1]. In other words it can be said that the green IT supports and promotes computer system with no or minimal impact on the nature or environment.

The goals to be achieved by the green computing are very similar to that of the green chemistry. These include, reducing the use of various hazardous and toxic materials, maximizing the energy efficiency during the lifetime of the product, and promoting practices such as the biodegradability or recyclability of use goods and factory waste [2]. Acknowledging and realizing the importance of such procedures, IT departments of few corporate companies have adapted Green Computing initiatives in order to reduce the impacts on the environment of their IT functions and operations [3]. However, majority of the companies and organizations still continues to increase the size of their IT system networks without even recognizing of the damage these practices are doing to the environment.

Impacts on the Environment

The very first step in identifying the suitable measures to implement Green Computing is to identify the areas that the absence of Green Computing will affect adversely. These include,

Affect of Excessive Use of electricity

It is only common sense that running and operation of thousands and millions of computers will require huge electricity production [4] [5]. However, it is important to note that majority of the naturally occurring resources, such as water, coal, etc., are being used in order to produce the amount electricity that is sufficient for the working of theses IT ...