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Introduction

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 WHAT IS GREEN COMPUTING?

Green computing is the study and practice of using computing resources efficiently. The

primary objective of such a program is to account for the triple bottom line, an

expanded spectrum of values and criteria for measuring organizational (and societal)

success. The goals are similar to green chemistry; reduce the use of hazardous materials,

maximize energy efficiency during the product's lifetime, and promote recyclability or

biodegradability of defunct products and factory waste. Modern IT systems rely upon a

complicated mix of people, networks and hardware; as such, a green computing

initiative must be systemic in nature, and address increasingly sophisticated problems.

Elements of such as solution may comprise items such as end user satisfaction,

management restructuring, regulatory compliance, disposal of electronic waste,

telecommuting, virtualization of server resources, energy use, thin client solutions, and

return on investment (ROI) [R1].

Today, data volumes are doubling every 18 months, and enterprises want to keep more

data online and provide access to more users. The impact is huge increases in the

amount of hardware infrastructure needed; resulting in corresponding increases in

power, cooling and data center space needs [6].

The recycling of old computers raises an important privacy issue. The old storage

devices still hold private information, such as emails, passwords and credit card

numbers, which can be recovered simply by someone using software that is available

freely on the Internet. Deletion of a file does not actually remove the file from the hard

drive. Before recycling a computer, users should remove the hard drive or hard drives if

there is more than one, and physically destroy it or store it somewhere safe. There are

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some authorized hardware recycling companies to whom the computer may be given for

recycling, and they typically sign a non-disclosure agreement [6].

Recycling computing equipment can keep harmful materials such as lead, mercury, and

hexavalent chromium out of landfills, and can also replace equipment that otherwise

would need to be manufactured, saving further energy and emissions. Computer

systems that have outlived their particular function can be re-purposed, or donated to

various charities and non-profit organizations. However, many charities have recently

imposed minimum system requirements for donated equipment. Additionally, parts

from outdated systems may be salvaged and recycled through certain retail outlets and

municipal or private recycling centers. Computing supplies, such as printer cartridges,

paper, and batteries may be recycled as well [R1].

A drawback too many of these schemes is that computers gathered through recycling

drives are often shipped to developing countries where environmental standards are less

strict than in North America and Europe. The Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition estimates

that 80% of the post-consumer e-waste collected for recycling is shipped abroad to

countries such as China and Pakistan [R1].

As 21st century belongs to computers, gizmos and electronic items, energy issues will

get a serious ring in the coming days, as the public debate on carbon emissions, global

warming and climate change gets hotter. Taking into consideration the popular use of

information technology industry, it has to lead a revolution of sorts by turning green in a

manner no industry has ever done before.

1.2 ORIGIN

In 1992, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency launched Energy Star, a voluntary

labelling program which is designed to promote and recognize energy-efficiency in

monitors, climate control equipment, and other technologies. This resulted in the

widespread adoption of sleep mode among consumer electronics. The term "green

computing" was probably coined shortly after the Energy Star program began; there are

several USENET posts dating back to 1992 which use the term in this manner.

Concurrently, the Swedish organization TCO Development launched the TCO

Certification program to promote low magnetic and electrical emissions from CRT-

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based computer displays; this program was later expanded to include criteria on energy

consumption, ergonomics, and the use of hazardous materials in construction.

1.3 HOW YOUR DEVICES HARM THE ENVIRONMENT?

Your computer and peripherals draw significant amounts of energy in sleep and standby

modes. They contribute to harmful CO2 emissions. These days everyone seems to be

talking about global warming and ways to protect the environment. Unconsciously, all

of us are contributing to unwanted CO2 (carbon dioxide) emissions from home, through

the careless use of our electrical devices. The sheer amount of energy wasted by devices

like PCs, televisions, and most other electronic appliances, even when they are in

standby mode, is enormous. According to reports from the German Federal

Environment Office, devices consume around 17 billion kilowatts hours (kWh) in a year

when they are in the standby mode. This mode is also responsible for CO2 emissions;

the CO2 dissipated from ‗sleeping‘ devices amounts to about one-seventh the CO2

emitted by an automobile. Manufacturers do not provide a proper shut-off button in

devices. DVD players, DVD recorders or even multifunctional printers continue to draw

electricity because of the absence of an ‗Off‘ button. If you press ‗Power off‘ on the

remote, these devices go into standby mode. The situation is even more serious in the

case of PCs. Windows Vista never shuts down or powers off the PC completely. Rather,

the default shut down mode is a deep sleep mode that requires power. It‘s only when

you switch off the mains switch at the back of the computer that the power supply unit

stops drawing power.

1.4 WHY GREEN COMPUTING?

In a world where business is transacted 24/7 across every possible channel available,

companies need to collect, store, track and analyze enormous volumes of data—

everything from click stream data and event logs to mobile call records and more. But

this all comes with a cost to both businesses and the environment. Data warehouses and

the sprawling data centers that house them use up a huge amount of power, both to run

legions of servers and to cool them. Just how much? A whopping 61 billion kilowatt-

hours of electricity, at an estimated cost of $4.5B annually [6].

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The IT industry has begun to address energy consumption in the data center through a

variety of approaches including the use of more efficient cooling systems, virtualization,

blade servers and storage area networks (SANs). But a fundamental challenge remains.

As data volumes explode, traditional, appliance-centric data warehousing approaches

can only continue to throw more hardware at the problem. This can quickly negate any

green gains seen through better cooling or more tightly packed servers [6].

To minimize their hardware footprint, organizations also need to shrink their "data

footprint" by addressing how much server space and resources their information

analysis requires in the first place. A combination of new database technologies

expressly designed for analysis of massive quantities of data and affordable, resource-

efficient, open-source software can help organizations save money and become greener

[6].

Organizations can do so in the following three key areas: reduced data footprint,

reduced deployment resources, and reduced on going management and maintenance [6].

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Approaches

2. APPROACHES TO GREEN COMPUTING

Energy costs of IT and data center operations are significant, whether for internal

corporate IT operations or as part of IT outsourcing, Power consumption, Cooling,

―Inefficient‖ equipment operations, e.g., data servers ―spinning‖ when no active

operations are being performed. In ―old days‖ energy costs were assumed to be free. In

current environment (pun intended), equipment costs have been reduced, putting focus

on energy costs [R1].

2.1 VIRTUALIZATION

Initiatives in this area include server virtualization and consolidation, storage

consolidation and desktop virtualization. These projects typically improve cost and

energy efficiency through optimized use of existing and new computing and storage

capacity, electricity, cooling, ventilation and real estate [6].

Moving desktops to a virtual environment and employing thin-client machines reduces

energy consumption and environmental impact of user infrastructure. As one senior

partner at a 100-employee services firm reports, ―[Thin clients have] no CPU, no RAM,

no moving parts, and connect to the virtual desktop environment. Our typical computer

used up to a 250-watt power supply; our thin client uses a 4.8-watt power supply, so the

reduction in electricity usage is 97, 98 percent, with all the functionality. ‖ Energy

savings result, as does cost avoidance, thanks to extended refresh cycles provided by

thin client equipment. Mid-size businesses face a preponderance of issues when it

comes to the server room. In this study, businesses cite the following reasons for

undertaking server room upgrades and the construction of new server rooms:

• Decrease cost and increase effectiveness of cooling and ventilation systems.

Many existing HVAC systems cannot keep up with smaller, more powerful

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servers that throw off more heat than older, low-density equipment. Most server

rooms were not designed to keep pace with the modern complement of fully

virtualized servers and consolidated storage.

• Increase server and computing capacity. Server room spaces are simply maxed

out; they are either too small to house needed servers, or inadequately equipped

to deal with a high rate of virtualization on fewer devices that run hotter.

• Questionable reliability of aging server room infrastructure; the server room

design of yesterday no longer supports business needs of today, in terms of

uptime and availability.

• Mounting maintenance and management costs for older facilities, which may not

affordably handle growth of computing and storage.

• The need to decrease real estate costs, through server room infrastructure that

supports denser, smaller footprints of new servers and storage [6].

Computer virtualization is the process of running two or more logical computer systems

on one set of physical hardware. The concept originated with the IBM mainframe

operating systems of the 1960s, but was commercialized for x86- compatible computers

only in the 1990s. With virtualization, a system administrator could combine several

physical systems into virtual machines on one single, powerful system, thereby

unplugging the original hardware and reducing power and cooling consumption. Several

commercial companies and open-source projects now offer software packages to enable

a transition to virtual computing. Intel Corporation and AMD have also built proprietary

virtualization enhancements to the x86 instruction set into each of their CPU product

lines, in order to facilitate virtualized computing [R1].

Server Virtualisation increases network utilization and reduces network equipment

needs by allowing multiple virtual servers to share one or more network adapters within

the confines of a single physical server. On the switch side, features such as Cisco's

Virtual Switching System allow one switch to function like many, which means more

than one server can connect to the same port. This works because most organizations

overprovision switching capacity based on peak loads. Reducing the total number of

physical ports required lowers overall power consumption. Similarly, 1HP's Virtual

Connect technology abstracts HP server blades from Ethernet and Fibre Channel

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networks. It requires fewer network interface cards, reduces cabling requirements and

increases network utilization [R1].

One of the primary goals of almost all forms of virtualization is making the most

efficient use of available system resources. With energy and power costs increasing as

the size of IT infrastructures grow, holding expenses to a minimum is quickly becoming

a top priority for many IT pros. Virtualization has helped in that respect by allowing

organizations to consolidate their servers onto fewer pieces of hardware, which can

result in sizable cost savings. The data-center is where virtualization can have the

greatest impact, and its there where many of the largest companies in the virtualization

space are investing their resources [R1].

Virtualization also fits in very nicely with the idea of ―Green Computing‖; by

consolidating servers and maximizing CPU processing power on other servers, you are

cutting costs (saving money) and taking less of a toll on our environment Storage

virtualization uses hardware and software to break the link between an application,

application component, system service or whole stack of software and the storage

subsystem. This allows the storage to be located just about anywhere, on just about any

type of device, replicated for performance reasons, replicated for reliability reasons or

for any combination of the above [R1].

2.2 PC POWER MANAGEMENT

Many look to managing end-user device power consumption as an easy, effective way

to reduce energy costs. These power management initiatives include the following:

• Using software that centrally manages energy settings of PCs and monitors.

• Enforcing standardized power settings on all PCs before distributing to end users.

• Procuring energy-efficient equipment, such as Energy Star certified devices [6].

-Every kilowatt counts:

Older computers can use up to 300 watts during peak load, but less than eight watts

during sleep modes. By maximizing the number of PCs and monitors controlled for

hibernate, sleep or shut-down times, companies reduce the amount of energy consumed

during lengthy idle times, particularly overnight. Procuring Energy Star compliant

devices or more energy-efficient equipment can also reduce power consumption during

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equipment use. This includes replacing old desktops with laptops, or refreshing CRT

monitors with LCD flat-screens. Altogether, these power management strategies result

in significant energy and maintenance cost savings; such benefits are realized by 65% of

companies that complete such initiatives [6]. Power management for computer systems

are desired for many reasons, particularly:

• Prolong battery life for portable and embedded systems.

• Reduce cooling requirements.

• Reduce noise.

• Reduce operating costs for energy and cooling.

• Lower power consumption also means lower heat dissipation, which increases

system stability, and less energy use, which saves money and reduces the impact

on the environment.

• The Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI), an open industry

standard, allows an operating system to directly control the power saving aspects

of its underlying hardware. This allows a system to automatically turn off

components such as monitors and hard drives after set periods of inactivity. In

addition, a system may hibernate, where most components (including the CPU

and the system RAM) are turned off. ACPI is a successor to an earlier Intel-

Microsoft standard called Advanced Power Management, which allows a

computer's BIOS to control power management functions.

• Some programs allow the user to manually adjust the voltages supplied to the

CPU, which reduces both the amount of heat produced and electricity consumed.

This process is called under volting. Some CPUs can automatically under volt

the processor depending on the workload; this technology is called "SpeedStep"

on Intel processors, "PowerNow!" or "Cool'n'Quiet" on AMD chips,

―LongHaul‖ on VIA CPUs, and ―Long Run‖ with Transmeta processors. The

power management for microprocessors can be done over the whole processor,

or in specific areas. With dynamic voltage scaling and dynamic frequency

scaling, the CPU core voltage, clock rate, or both, can be altered to decrease

power consumption at the price of slower performance. This is sometimes done

in real time to optimize the power-performance tradeoff.

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Examples:

• Intel SpeedStep

• AMD Cool'n'Quiet

• AMD PowerNow!

• VIA LongHaul (PowerSaver)

• Transmeta LongRun and LongRun2

Newer Intel Core processors support ultra-fine power control over the function units

within the processors [R1].

2.3 POWER SUPPLY

Power supplies in most computers (PSUs for short) aren't designed for energy efficiency.

In fact, most computers drain more power than they need during normal operation,

leading to higher electrical bills and a more dire environmental impact. The 80 Plus

program is a voluntary certification system for power-supply manufacturers. The term

"80 Plus" is a little complicated, so bear with me for a moment. If a PSU meets the

certification, it will use only the power it needs at a given load: In other words, it won't

use more power than it needs. For example, if your PC requires only 20 percent of the

total power of a 500-watt PSU, the system will consume no more than 100 watts. Only

when the PC requires full power will the PSU run at the full wattage load. An 80 Plus

power supply can save about 85 kilowatt hours per PC, per year. In many ways, it's the

heart of a green PC, since it manages the power for all the other components. It also has

the most dramatic effect on your energy bill. Of course, all 80 Plus power supplies are

also lead-free and RoHS compliant [R1].

Desktop computer power supplies (PSUs) are generally 70–75% efficient, dissipating

the remaining energy as heat. An industry initiative called 80 PLUS certifies PSUs that

are at least 80% efficient; typically these models are drop-in replacements for older, less

efficient PSUs of the same form factor. As of July 20, 2007, all new Energy Star 4.0-

certified desktop PSUs must be at least 80% efficient. Various initiatives are underway

to improve the efficiency of computer power supplies.

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Climate savers computing initiative promotes energy saving and reduction of

greenhouse gas emissions by encouraging development and use of more efficient power

supplies [R1].

2.4 STORAGE

There are three routes available, all of which vary in cost, performance, and capacity.

The most conventional route is the 3.5" desktop hard drive. Recently, major drive

manufacturers have begun to focus on reduced power consumption, resulting in such

features as the reduced RPM low-power idle mode with fixed rotation speed for reduced

power consumption. The advantages of this route are the highest possible capacity, the

best performance (out of the highest-end solid-state drives).

The second option, which also lends itself to affordability, is to use a 2.5" laptop hard

drive. These consume less power than larger disks as a result of their smaller platters,

smaller motors, and firmware that is already optimized for power consumption versus

most 3.5" hard disks. With capacities up to 320GB, reasonable capacity is well within

reach, although the price is substantially higher than an equivalent 3.5" disk. With a

green system aimed at light use, a 120GB or 160GB laptop drive is a very affordable,

lower-power alternative to a 3.5" disk [R1].

The lowest-power option is to use a solid state hard drive (SSD), which typically draw

less than one-third the power of a 2.5" disk. The latest, highest-performance SSDs are

very fast but extremely expensive, and currently top out at only 64GB. That's adequate

for light use, but wholly inadequate for gamers, video editing, and other heavy uses.

More affordable SSDs are available in larger capacities, but are not cheap and typically

have slow write performance, which limits their practical utility.

Smaller form factor (e.g. 2.5 inch) hard disk drives often consume less power 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, (e.g., 4GB i-RAM uses more power and

space than laptop drives). Flash based drives are generally slower for writing than hard

disks [R1].

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2.5 VIDEO CARD

A fast GPU may be the largest power consumer in a computer. Energy efficient display

options include:

• No video card - use a shared terminal, shared thin client, or desktop sharing

software if display required.

• Use motherboard video output - typically low 3D performance and low power.

• Reuse an older video card that uses little power; many do not require heat sinks

or fans.

• Select a GPU based on average wattage or performance per watt.

The easiest way to conserve power is to go with integrated video. This is the lowest

performance option, but for office users, casual browsing, and pure 2D use, it's more

than adequate—and well worth saving the 10W, 20W, or even 35W from a discrete

video card. Motherboards spitting out integrated video via DVI or HDMI aren't that

hard to find, so power-users with their massive LCDs don't have to suffer [R1].

2.6 DISPLAYS

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. LCD

monitors uses three times less when active, and ten times less energy when in sleep

mode. LCDs are up to 66% more energy efficient than CRTs, LCDs are also upwards of

80% smaller in size and weight, leading to fuel savings in shipping.

LCDs produce less heat, meaning you'll need less AC to keep cool. LCD screens are

also easier on the eyes. Their lower intensity and steady light pattern result in less

fatigue versus CRTs. A newer LCD draws 40-60W maximum in a modest 19", 20", or

22" size. That number grows close to maximum 85W or 100W for a 24" unit. Drop

them down to standby or turn them off entirely when not using them to minimize power

consumption. By comparison, a 21" CRT typically uses more than 120W, more than

double the power of a typical 22" LCD [R1].

2.7 IT EQUIPMENT RECYCLING

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After you‘ve finished with your IT products, what happens when they‘re no longer

needed? In nature, organic materials rot down and feed future growth, so why not

dismantle products at the end of their lives and use the elements as raw materials for

future products? Several reputable computer manufacturers use metal and easily

separated plastics in order to maximize raw material reuse. It‘s important that the

environmental costs of recovery don‘t exceed the benefits expected. And that, of course,

loops back to design in the first place [6].

The priorities for all material things are reducing reuse and recycle - in that order of

importance. If you can extend the working life of your IT products, you reduce the

environmental consequences of mining, manufacture, packaging, shipping and disposal.

Can you upgrade something rather than finish using it? If you have to replace it, can

someone else inside your organization use it? If not, charities and refurbishing

organizations may be able to extend the product‘s life. And, waiting at the end of the

line, many organizations, including some manufacturers themselves, are willing to take

equipment back and recycle the components into new products. Out of all initiatives in

this study, the success of IT equipment recycling relies not on a business case with cost

savings, but on a combination of environmental responsibility and regulatory pressures.

The single most important factor in adopting recycling initiatives is to decrease waste

sent to landfills [6].

Recycling computing equipment can keep harmful materials such as lead, mercury, and

hexavalent chromium out of landfills. Obsolete computers are a valuable source for

secondary raw materials, if treated properly, however if not treated properly they are a

major source of toxins and carcinogens. Rapid technology change, low initial cost and

even planned obsolescence have resulted in a fast growing problem around the globe.

Technical solutions are available but in most cases a legal framework, a collection

system, logistics and other services need to be implemented before a technical solution

can be applied. Electronic devices, including audio-visual components (televisions,

VCRs, stereo equipment), mobile phones and other handheld devices, and computer

components, contain valuable elements and substances suitable for reclamation,

including lead, copper, and gold. They also contain a plethora of toxic substances, such

as dioxins, PCBs, cadmium, chromium, radioactive isotopes, and mercury [R1].

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Additionally, the processing required reclaiming the precious substances (including

incineration and acid treatments) release, generating and synthesizing further toxic

byproducts most major computer manufacturers offer some form of recycling, often as a

free replacement service when purchasing a new PC. At the user's request they may

mail in their old computer, or arrange for pickup from the manufacturer. Individuals

looking for environmentally-friendly ways in which to dispose of electronics can find

corporate electronic take-back and recycling programs across the country. Open to the

public (in most cases), corporations nationwide have begun to offer low-cost to no cost

recycling, and have opened centers nationally and in some cases internationally [4].

Such programs frequently offer services to take-back and recycle electronics including

mobile phones, laptop and desktop computers, digital cameras, and home and auto

electronics. Companies offer what are called ―take-back‖ programs that provide

monetary incentives for recyclable and/or working technologies. While there are several

health hazards when it comes to dealing with computer recycling some of the

substances you should be aware of:

• Lead common in CRTs, older solder, some batteries and to some formulations of

PVC. It can be harmful if not disposed of properly.

• Mercury in fluorescent tubes. With new technologies arising the elimination of

mercury in many new model computers is taking place.

• Cadmium in some rechargeable batteries. It can be hazardous to your skin if

exposed for too long. Although many people are exposed to it every day it just

depends on the amount of exposure.

• Liquid crystals are another health hazard that should be taken into consideration

although they do not have the nearly the same effects as the other chemicals [2].

2.8 REMOTE CONFERENCING & TELECOMMUTING STRATEGIES

Given recent jumps in fuel costs and greater awareness of harm caused by greenhouse

gas emissions, many companies wish to reduce travel to cut costs and decrease negative

impact on the environment. The initiatives in this study consist of the following:

• Remote Conferencing & Collaboration

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• Video-conferencing and teleconferencing implementations between facilities or

between office and client sites.

• Online collaboration environments.

2.8.1 Telecommuting Strategy & Capabilities:

• Virtual Private Network (VPN), remote access, and unified or voice

communications capabilities to enable access from home and other remote

locations.

• Policies and strategies allowing or encouraging employees to work from home.

• Policies allowing or enforcing employees to work ―Four-Tens‖ (4 days a week,

10 hours a day) [6].

2.8.2 Cutting travel costs where it counts:

Not surprisingly, businesses adopting travel reduction initiatives seek to decrease the

travel and fuel consumption costs associated with driving or flying between office

locations and to client sites. These initiatives not only reduce costs of fuel, flights,

hotels and related expenses, but also result in higher employee satisfaction. After

implementation, more than three-quarters of organizations report their expectations

regarding travel cost savings are either met or exceeded. Teleconferencing and

telepresence technologies are often implemented in green computing initiatives. The

advantages are many; 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; the average annual

energy consumption for U.S. office buildings is over 23 kilowatt hours per square foot,

with heat, air conditioning and lighting accounting for 70% of all energy consumed.

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,

and field service -- integrate well with this technique. Rather than traveling great

distances, in order to have a face-face meeting, it is now possible to teleconference

instead, using a multi way video phone. Each member of the meeting, or each party, can

see every other member on a screen or screens, and can talk to them as if they were in

the same room. This brings enormous time and cost benefits, as well as a reduced

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impact on the environment by lessening the need for travel – a damaging source of

carbon emissions [R1].

Voice over IP (VoIP) reduces the telephony wiring infrastructure by sharing the existing

Ethernet copper (a toxic metal). VoIP and phone extension mobility also made hot

desking and more practical [R1].

2.9 PRODUCT LONGEVITY

Gartner maintains that the PC manufacturing process accounts for 70 % of the natural

resources used in the life cycle of a PC. Therefore, the biggest contribution to green

computing usually is to prolong the equipment's lifetime. Another report from Gartner

recommends to "Looking for product longevity, including upgradability and

modularity." For instance, manufacturing a new PC makes a far bigger ecological

footprint than manufacturing a new RAM module to upgrade an existing one, a common

upgrade that saves the user having to purchase a new computer [R1].

2.10 ALGORITHMIC EFFICIENCY

The efficiency of algorithms has an impact on the amount of computer resources

required for any given computing function and there are many efficiency trade-offs in

writing programs. As computers have become more numerous and the cost of hardware

has declined relative to the cost of energy, the energy efficiency and environmental

impact of computing systems and programs has received increased attention. A study by

Alex Wissner-Gross, a physicist at Harvard, estimated that the average Google search

released 7 grams of carbon dioxide (CO2). However, Google disputes this figure,

arguing instead that a typical search produces only 0.2 grams of CO2 [R1].

2.11 RESOURCE ALLOCATION

Algorithms can also be used to route data to data centers where electricity is less

expensive. Researchers from MIT, Carnegie Mellon University, and Akamai have tested

an energy allocation algorithm that successfully routes traffic to the location with the

cheapest energy costs. The researchers project up to a 40 percent savings on energy

costs if their proposed algorithm were to be deployed. Strictly speaking, this approach

does not actually reduce the amount of energy being used; it only reduces the cost to the

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company using it. However, a similar strategy could be used to direct traffic to rely on

energy that is produced in a more environmentally friendly or efficient way. A similar

approach has also been used to cut energy usage by routing traffic away from data

centers experiencing warm weather; this allows computers to be shut down to avoid

using air conditioning [R1].

2.12 TERMINAL SERVERS

Terminal servers have also been used in green computing. When using the system, users

at a terminal connect to a central server; all of the actual computing is done on the

server, but the end user experiences the operating system on the terminal. These can be

combined with thin clients, which use up to 1/8 the amount of energy of a normal

workstation, resulting in a decrease of energy costs and consumption.

There has been an increase in using terminal services with thin clients to create virtual

labs. Examples of terminal server software include Terminal Services for Windows and

the Linux Terminal Server Project (LTSP) for the Linux operating system [R1].

2.13 OPERATING SYSTEM SUPPORT

The dominant desktop operating system, Microsoft Windows, has included limited PC

power management features since Windows 95. These initially provided for stand-by

(suspend-to-RAM) and a monitor low power state. Further iterations of Windows added

hibernate (suspend-to-disk) and support for the ACPI standard. Windows 2000 was the

first NT based operation system to include power management. This required major

changes to the underlying operating system architecture and a new hardware driver

model. Windows 2000 also introduced Group Policy, a technology which allowed

administrators to centrally configure most Windows features. However, power

management was not one of those features. This is probably because the power

management settings design relied upon a connected set of per-user and per-machine

binary registry values, effectively leaving it up to each user to configure their own

power management settings [R1].

This approach, which is not compatible with Windows Group Policy, was repeated in

Windows XP. The reasons for this design decision by Microsoft are not known, and it

has resulted in heavy criticism Microsoft significantly improved this in Windows Vista

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by redesigning the power management system to allow basic configuration by Group

Policy. The support offered is limited to a single per computer policy. The most recent

release, Windows 7 retains these limitations but does include refinements for more

efficient user of operating system timers, processor power management, and display

panel brightness [R1].

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Ways of implementation

3. WAYS OF IMPLEMENTATION

3.1 GREENING YOUR ORGANIZATION

The whole idea of replacing physical movement with electronic communications like

videoconferencing reduces environmental impacts, not to mention associated costs. This

also applies to how you manage your business processes. Consider distributing

information electronically rather than printing it first and then distributing it. This ‗print

on demand‘ approach saves transport and unnecessary copies, not to mention saving

money! Companies with transport and logistics operations can reduce emissions by

using software applications to optimize routes and eliminate wasted journeys. Solutions

can range from simple sat-nav devices to more complex transportation management

systems which coordinate multiple vehicles and routes, saving both time and fuel, and

providing more predictable customer service too [3].

Power management softwares help the computers to sleep or hibernate when not in use.

Reversible computing (which also includes quantum computing) promises to reduce

power consumption by a factor of several thousand, but such systems are still very

much in the laboratories. Reversible computing includes any computational process that

is (at least to some close approximation) reversible, i.e., time-invertible, meaning that a

time-reversed version of the process could exist within the same general dynamical

framework as the original process. Reversible computing's efficient use of heat could

make it possible to come up with 3-D chip designs, Bennett said. This would push all of

the circuitry closer together and ultimately increase performance.

The best way to recycle a computer, however, is to keep it and upgrade it. Further, it is

important to design computers which can be powered with low power obtained from

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non-conventional energy sources like solar energy, pedaling a bike, turning a hand-

crank etc.

The electric utility industry is in an unprecedented era of change to meet increasing

customer demand for greater reliability and different services in the face of substantial

regulation and volatile energy costs. This requires new approaches and business models

to allow greater network reliability, efficiency, flexibility and transparency. At the same

time, the utility industry is digitizing, transforming from an electromechanical

environment to a digitized one.

New Internet Protocol-enabled networks now allow for network integration along the

entire supply chain – from generation, transmission, to end-use and metering – and

create the opportunity for Intelligent Utility Networks (IUN) which applies sensors and

other technologies to sense and respond in real-time to changes throughout the supply

chain. The IP-enabled network connects all parts of the utility grid equipment, control

systems, applications, and employees. It also enables automatic data collection and

storage from across the utility based on a common information model and service-

oriented architecture (SOA), which enables a flexible use of information technology.

This in turn allows utilities to continuously analyze data so that they can better manage

assets and operations.

Electronics giants are about to roll out eco-friendly range of computers (like desktops

and laptops) that aim at reducing the e-waste in the environment. Besides desktops and

laptops, other electronic hardware products should also be strictly adhering to the

restricted use of hazardous substances. In other words, they should be free of hazardous

materials such as brominated flame retardants, PVCs and heavy metals such as lead,

cadmium and mercury, which are commonly used in computer manufacturing.

Reliability about the use of green materials in computer is perhaps the biggest single

challenge facing the electronics industry. Lead-tin solder in use today is very malleable

making it an ideal shock absorber. So far, more brittle replacement solders have yet to

show the same reliability in arduous real-world applications.

3.2 NEARING GREEN NIRVANA

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• Energy-intensive manufacturing of computer parts can be minimized by making

manufacturing process more energy efficient by replacing petroleum filled

plastic with bioplastics—plant-based polymers— require less oil and energy to

produce than traditional plastics with a challenge to keep these bioplastic

computers cool so that electronics won't melt them.

• Power-sucking displays can be replaced with green light displays made of

OLEDs, or organic light-emitting diodes.

• Use of toxic materials like lead can be replaced by silver and copper.

• Making recycling of computers (which is expensive and time consuming at

present) more effective by recycling computer parts separately with an option of

reuse or resale.

• Future computers could knock 10 percent off their energy use just by replacing

hard drives with solid-state, or flash, memory, which has no watt-hungry moving

parts.

• Buy and use a low power desktop or a laptop computer (40-90 watts) rather a

higher power desktop (e.g. 300 watts).

• Find out the normal operating power (watts) required.

• The maximum power supply (up to 1kW in some modern gaming PCs) is not as

important as the normal operating power, but note that power supply efficiency

generally peaks at about 50-75% load.

• Idle state represents 69 to 97% of total annual energy use, even if power

management is enabled.

• Computer power supplies are generally about 70–75% efficient; to produce 75

W of DC output they require 100 W of AC input and dissipate the remaining 25

W in heat.

• Higher-quality power supplies can be over 80% efficient; higher energy

efficiency uses less power directly, and requires less power to cool as well. As of

2007, 93% efficient power supplies are available.

• Thin clients can use only 4 to 8 watts of power at the desktop as the processing

is done by a server.

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• For desktops, buy a low power central processing unit (CPU). This reduces both

power consumption and cooling requirements.

• Buy hardware from manufacturers that have a hardware recycling scheme, and

recycle your old computer equipment rather than sending it to landfill.

• Turn your computer and monitor off when you are not using it.

• Enable hibernation using the power management settings. Standby does not save

as much power.

• Replace your CRT screen with an LCD screen.

• Keep your PC or laptop for at least 5 years. If you're leasing, shift to a 5 year

period. This reduces resource and energy consumption associated with the

manufacture and distribution of PCs by 40%, compared to replacing PCs every 3

years which is current corporate practice.

• Avoid an unnecessary operating system version upgrade which requires a

hardware upgrade.

• Use Linux (such as Ubuntu), which requires less resources than many other

operating systems on an older computer as a spare or a file server.

• Use server virtualization to aggregate multiple under-utilized servers onto more

energy efficient server infrastructure.

• Use blade servers instead of rack or standalone servers to reduce power

consumption.

• Specify low energy consumption level in Request for Tender documents.

• Measure your data center power usage.

• Use server and/or web-based applications where possible to extend desktop

service life and reduce desktop software maintenance.

• Establish policies governing the acquisition, usage and disposal of computer

hardware to minimize energy consumption and environmental impact [3].

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Future

4. FUTURE OF GREEN COMPUTING

As 21st century belongs to computers, gizmos and electronic items, energy issues will

get a serious ring in the coming days, as the public debate on carbon emissions, global

warming and climate change gets hotter. If we think computers are nonpolluting and

consume very little energy we need to think again. It is estimated that out of $250

billion per year spent on powering computers worldwide only about 15% of that power

is spent computing- the rest is wasted idling. Thus, energy saved on computer hardware

and computing will equate tonnes of carbon emissions saved per year.

Taking into consideration the popular use of information technology industry, it has to

lead a revolution of sorts by turning green in a manner no industry has ever done before.

Opportunities lie in green technology like never before in history and organizations are

seeing it as a way to create new profit centers while trying to help the environmental

cause [R1].

The plan towards green IT should include new electronic products and services with

optimum efficiency and all possible options towards energy savings. Faster processors

historically use more power. Inefficient CPU's are a double hit because they both use

too much power themselves and their waste heat increases air conditioning needs,

especially in server farms--between the computers and the HVAC. The waste heat also

causes reliability problems, as CPU's crash much more often at higher temperatures.

Many people have been working for years to slice this inefficiency out of computers.

Similarly, power supplies are notoriously bad, generally as little as 47% efficient. And

since everything in a computer runs off the power supply, nothing can be efficient

without a good power supply. Recent inventions of power supply are helping fix this by

running at 80% efficiency or better [2].

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\

Green IT

5. GREEN IT FOR BUSINESS

It is becoming widely understood that the way in which we are behaving as a society is

environmentally unsustainable, causing irreparable damage to our planet. Rising energy

prices, together with government-imposed levies on carbon production, are increasingly

impacting on the cost of doing business, making many current business practices

economically unsustainable. It is becoming progressively more important for all

businesses to act (and to be seen to act) in an environmentally responsible manner, both

to fulfill their legal and moral obligations, but also to enhance the brand and to improve

corporate image [3].

Companies are competing in an increasingly ‗green‘ market, and must avoid the real

and growing financial penalties that are increasingly being levied against carbon

production. IT has a large part to play in all this. With the increasing drive towards

centralized mega data centers alongside the huge growth in power hungry blade

technologies in some companies, and with a shift to an equally power-hungry

distributed architecture in others, the IT function of business is driving an exponential

increase in demand for energy, and, along with it, is having to bear the associated cost

increases [3].

5.1 THE PROBLEM

Rising energy costs will have an impact on all businesses, and all businesses will

increasingly be judged according to their environmental credentials, by legislators,

customers and shareholders. This won‘t just affect the obvious, traditionally power-

hungry ‗smoke-belching‘ manufacturing and heavy engineering industries, and the

power generators. The IT industry is more vulnerable than most –It has sometimes been

a reckless and profligate consumer of energy. Development and Improvements in

technology have largely been achieved without regard to energy consumption.

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5.2 THE IMPACT

Rising energy costs and increasing environmental damage can only become more

important issues, politically and economically. They will continue to drive significant

increases in the cost of living, and will continue to drive up the cost of doing business.

This will make it imperative for businesses to operate as green entities, risking massive

and expensive change. Cost and environmental concern will continue to force us away

from the ‗dirtiest‘ forms of energy (coal/oil), though all of the alternatives are

problematic. We may find ourselves facing a greater reliance on gas, which is

economically unstable and whose supply is potentially insecure, or at least unreliable.

It may force greater investment in nuclear power, which is unpopular and expensive,

and it may lead to a massive growth of intrusive alternative energy infrastructure –

including huge wind farms, or the equipment needed to exploit tidal energy. Solving the

related problems of rising energy costs and environmental damage will be extremely

painful and costly, and those perceived as being responsible will be increasingly

expected to shoulder the biggest burden of the cost and blame. It may even prove

impossible to reduce the growth in carbon emissions sufficiently to avoid environmental

catastrophe. Some believe that the spotlight may increasingly point towards IT as an

area to make major energy savings, and some even predict that IT may even become

tomorrow‘s 4x4/SUV, or aviation – the next big target for the environmental lobby, and

the next thing to lose public support/consent.

5.3 THE SOLUTION

A fresh approach to IT and power is now needed, putting power consumption at the fore

in all aspects of IT – from basic hardware design to architectural standards, from bolt-on

point solutions to bottom-up infrastructure build. IBM has a real appreciation of the

issues, thanks to its size, experience and expertise, and can help its customers to avoid

the dozens of ‗wrong ways‘ of doing things, by helping to identify the most appropriate

solutions. There is a real, economic imperative to change arising now, and it is not just a

matter of making gestures simply to improve a company‘s environmental credentials.

5.4 THE COST OF POWER

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The whole topic of energy consumption is gaining increased prominence in Western

Europe as a consequence of rising energy prices, and as a result of a growing focus on

global warming and the environment.

5.5 A HISTORY & THE FUTURE OF INCREASING POWER CONSUMPTION

Many of today‘s motor cars and car engines are increasingly poorly suited to today‘s

demand for economy and fuel efficiency, having been designed when oil prices were

low and when performance, space and comfort were the most important design drivers.

Each new car model since the Model T was therefore designed to outperform its

predecessors. Only now is fuel economy and environmental ‗friendliness‘ is becoming

more important than speed and horsepower. The situation is similar in the IT industry,

which has seen a concentration on processing power and storage capacity, while power

consumption has been ignored. As in the automotive industry, energy consumption was

regarded as being much less important than performance. The IT industry has seen a

concentration on processing power and storage capacity, while power consumption has

been ignored. As manufacturers competed to create ever-faster processors, smaller and

smaller transistors (running hotter and consuming more electricity) were used to form

the basis of each new generation of processors. Increased operating temperatures added

to the consumption of power, requiring more and more cooling fans. Modern IT systems

provide more computing power per unit of energy (kWh) and thus reduce energy

consumption per unit of computing power. Despite this, they are actually responsible for

an overall increase in energy consumption, and for an increase in the cost of energy as a

proportion of IT costs. This is because users are not simply using the same amount of

computing power as before, while using the new technology to reduce their power

consumption (or operating temperatures), nor are they using technology to leverage

savings in energy costs or in CO2 production.

Instead, users are taking and using the increased computing power offered by modern

systems. New software in particular is devouring more and more power every year.

Some software requires almost constant access to the hard drive, draining power much

more rapidly than previous packages did. Tests of the initial version of Microsoft

Windows Vista indicated that it consumed 25% more power than today‘s Windows XP,

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for example. The advent of faster, smaller chips has also allowed manufacturers to

produce smaller, stackable and rackable servers allowing greater computing power to be

brought to bear (and often shoe-horned into smaller spaces) but with no reduction in

overall energy consumption, and often with a much greater requirement for cooling.

Despite the trend towards server virtualization and consolidation in some companies,

business demand for IT services is increasing, and many companies are still expanding

their data centers, while the number of servers in such data centers is still increasing

annually by about 18%.While the growth in demand for energy did slowdown in 2005

(going from a 4.4% rise to just 2.7%, globally) and though the demand for energy

actually fell in the USA, the International Energy Agency has predicted that the world

will need 60% more energy by 2030 than it does today.

5.6 DATA CENTERS

In many companies, there has been a shift away from dedicated data centers, as part of

an attempt to provide all IT requirements by using smaller boxes within the office

environment. Many have found this solution too expensive, experiencing a higher net

spend on staff as well as with higher support costs. Energy consumption of distributed

IT environments is difficult to audit, but some have also noted a progressive increase in

power consumption with the move from centralized to decentralized, then to distributed

architecture, and finally to mobility-based computing [2].

Even where distributed computing remains dominant, the problems of escalating energy

prices and environmental concerns are present, albeit at a lower order of magnitude than

in the data center environment, and even though the problems are rather more diffuse

and more difficult to solve. Some analysts believe that there is already a trend away

from distributed computing back to the data center, with consolidation and

centralization on the rise again. Within a data center/server environment, technological

improvement is driving requirements for greater energy into the building, for increased

floor area and for increased cooling capacity [2].

This may be counter-intuitive, since the emergence of blade servers superficially

promised to allow the more efficient use of data center floor space, by packing more

high-performance servers into a single rack. However, this increase in computing power

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and server numbers for a given floor area multiplies cooling problems, since air is an

inefficient media for cooling computers and empty space alone is insufficient to give

adequate cooling. Air conditioning and other cooling techniques are required to keep

temperatures in check. A typical 1980s server could be cooled quite easily, but though a

modern server takes up much less floor space, it is more difficult to cool, and requires

more space around it. Though it will require less power per unit of computing power, its

overall energy requirement will be considerably higher, and the need for improved

cooling will further increase energy requirements – and environmental impact, of course.

Analysts recently suggested that by the end of 2008, 50% of the data centers would not

have enough power to meet the power and cooling requirements of the new equipment

used in high-density server environments.

The new systems are more compact and of higher density, and can call for more

localized power and cooling than will typically be found in an existing data center

environment. A blade server system set up in a single rack, can easily weigh more than

a tonnes, and can in theory call for more than 30kW of power – more than 10 times

what would have been required a few years ago. According to Sun Microsystems

engineers, a typical rack of servers installed in data centers just two years ago might

have consumed a modest 2kW of power while producing 40 watts of heat per square

foot. Newer, high-density racks, expected to be in use by the end of the decade, could

easily consume as much as 25kW and give off as much as 500 watts of heat per square

foot. The energy consumed by fans, pumps and other cooling components already

accounts for some 60-70% of the total energy consumption in the data center, and

Gartner predicts that energy costs will become the second highest cost in 70% of the

world‘s data centers by 2009, trailing staff/personnel costs, but well ahead of the cost of

the IT hardware.

It is now believed that in most data centers, particularly those located in single-story

industrial-type buildings, electrical costs are already more than two to three times

greater than real-estate costs, and many existing data center buildings may be physically

incapable of providing the higher levels of power and cooling that are now required.

Because IT equipment is usually depreciated every two to three years, investment in

new hardware is relatively easy, whereas new data center equipment (including air

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conditioning, universal power supplies and generators) are more usually depreciated

over 20 years, making new investment more difficult. Investing in new buildings may

be more even more problematic. It is thus difficult and costly to build your way out of

power consumption and heat problems. The increasing drive toward Server

consolidation in an effort to improve operating costs and operational efficiency is

further aggravating the problems of increasing energy consumption, and increased heat

generation. Thus, data center managers must focus on the electrical and cooling issue as

never before.

There are cheap, quick-fix, ‗point‘ solutions that provide ‗strap-on‘ cooling by

retrofitting blowers and/or water-cooling systems. Installing water jackets on the

server racks allows one to build a much smaller, denser and more efficient data center.

But although liquid cooling is more efficient than air-conditioning, it is still a short term,

stop-gap answer. Much greater efficiencies and greater cost savings can be leveraged by

addressing the underlying problem and by using longer-term solutions.

This is likely to entail redesigning and reconfiguring the data center, however, which

obviously requires more long-term investment and a fresh approach to IT, with power

consumption at front of mind.

5.7 STRATEGIES FOR CHANGE

The whole purpose of IT is to make businesses more productive and efficient, and to

save money. Businesses are competitive bodies, used to having to ‗do more with less‘ in

order to remain competitive. They will have to learn to use less electricity in just the

same way, using green (sustainable) computing to save money.

This will demand major changes in IT user behaviors and policies. As energy and

infrastructure costs continue to increase exponentially, and as environmental

considerations become more prevalent, there is a real need for a power-based IT

optimization strategy, bringing power right to the fore of IT policy, thereby impacting

the end-tonnes architecture, hardware and software, and on all of the processes

undertaken day-to-day to support a company‘s workflow. This could force the adoption

of new infrastructure, and will increasingly inform decision making when new

platforms are procured, or when decisions are made about IT strategies – whether to

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centralize or whether to adopt a more distributed architecture and so on. Other

companies will have to take more modest steps, simply making sure that desktop PCs,

monitors and printers are turned off at night, and/or using more effective power saving

modes on unused equipment. Others will opt to use more energy-efficient components,

such as LCDs rather than CRT monitors when buying new hardware. New dual-core

processors are faster than traditional chips and yet use less energy, and the latest

generation of dual-core processors (exemplified by Intel‘s new ‗Woodcrest‘) promise to

consume about one third less power than their predecessors while offering up to 80%

better performance.

Other IT users may need to investigate the use of DC power. Most energy suppliers

provide AC power because it is easier to transport over long distances, although most

PCs and servers run on DC, so that the AC current from the utility has to be converted

to DC before it reaches the hardware, with inevitable losses of energy in conversion.

Some companies may benefit from moving away from distributed computing based on

individual desktop PCs to small, thin client server architecture. It has been suggested

that a 10-user system could save about 3,200kWh per year in direct electricity costs

(while further energy savings, equivalent to about 11 tonnes of CO2 per year, would be

saved in manufacturing costs). The total production and operating cost savings over the

three-year life span of a 10-user system would be more than 33 tonnes.

In an existing server environment, there are significant cost savings associated with any

reductions in cooling requirements, and keeping server rooms and computer workspaces

at the right temperature is critical.

Virtualization and server consolidation can allow users to ‗do more with less‘, allowing

one large server to replace several smaller machines. This can reduce the power

required and the overall heat produced. By reducing the number of servers in use, users

can simplify their IT infrastructure, and reduce the power and cooling requirements.

When Dayton, Ohio overhauled its IT infrastructure, replacing a network of 80 archaic

terminals and numerous ad hoc PCs with thin clients for 60% of the staff and PCs for

the rest, the city saw a corresponding drop in energy used.

The switch saved the city US$700,000 annually from reduced data and software

administration expenses, and especially from lower client maintenance costs, with a

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US$60,000-$90,000 reduction in electricity costs. There is also a corresponding

reduction in carbon footprint.

Fortunately, business is getting outside support as it struggles towards greener

computing. The US Environmental Protection Agency‘s Energy Star program is already

promoting more energy-efficient IT infrastructures and policies, while IBM,

Hewlett-Packard, Sun Microsystems and AMD have joined forces to launch the Green

Grid environmental lobby, aimed at reducing energy consumption at computer data

centers by encouraging and improving power-saving measures.

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Implementation

6. INDUSTRIAL IMPLEMENTATIONS

6.1 BLACKLE

Blackle is a search-engine site powered by Google Search. Blackle came into being

based on the concept that when a computer screen is white, presenting an empty word

page or the Google home page, your computer consumes 74W. When the screen is

black it consumes only 59W. Based on this theory if everyone switched from Google to

Blackle, mother earth would save 750MW each year. This was a really good

implementation of Green Computing. The principle behind Blackle is based on the fact

that the display of different colors consumes different amounts of energy on computer

monitors [5].

6.2 FIT-PC

Fit-PC is the size of a paperback and absolutely silent, yet fit enough to run Windows

XP or Linux. fit-PC is designed to fit where a standard PC is too bulky, noisy and power

hungry. If you ever wished for a PC to be compact, quiet and green – then fit- PC is the

perfect fit for you. Fit-PC draws only 5 Watts, consuming in a day less power than a

traditional PC consumes in 1 hour. You can leave fit-PC to work 24/7 without making a

dent in your electric bill [5].

6.3 ZONBU COMPUTER

The Zonbu is a new, very energy efficient PC. The Zonbu consumes just one third of the

power of a typical light bulb. The device runs the Linux operating system using a 1.2

gigahertz processor and 512 meg of RAM. It also contains no moving parts, and does

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even contain a fan. You can get one for as little as US$99, but it does require you to

sign up for a two-year subscription" [5].

6.4 SUNRAY THIN CLIENT

Sun Microsystems is reporting increased customer interest in its Sun Ray, a thin desktop

client, as electricity prices climb, according to Subodh Bapat, vice president and chief

engineer in the Eco Responsibility office at Sun. Thin clients like the Sun Ray consume

far less electricity than conventional desktops, he said. A Sun Ray on a desktop

consumes 4 to 8 watts of power, because most of the heavy computation is performed

by a server. Sun says Sunrays are particularly well suited for cost-sensitive

environments such as call centers, education, healthcare, service providers, and finance.

PCs have more powerful processors as well as hard drives, something thin clients don't

have. Thus, traditional PCs invariably consume a substantially larger amount of power.

In the United States, desktops need to consume 50 watts or less in idle mode to qualify

for new stringent Energy Star certification [5].

6.5 THE ASUS EEE PC AND OTHER ULTRA PORTABLES

The "ultra-portable" class of personal computers is characterized by a small size, fairly

low power CPU, compact screen, low cost and innovations such as using flash memory

for storage rather than hard drives with spinning platters. These factors combine to

enable them to run more efficiently and use less power than a standard form factor

laptop. The Asus Eee PC is one example of an ultraportable. It is the size of a paperback,

weighs less than a kilogram, has built-in Wi-Fi and uses flash memory instead of a hard

drive. It runs Linux too [5].

6.6 OTHER IMPLEMENTATION

6.6.1 Notebooks:

Usually, notebooks are more modest than desktop PCs when it comes to the energy

requirements. On average, notebook batteries last for less than two hours, so energy

saving is an important issue for those who are away from a plug point for long durations.

If you want to achieve maximum battery runtime then it‘s essential for a notebook to

have energy-efficient components. The warmer the external power supply unit, the

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higher the electricity consumption. Apple‘s MacBooks or Acer-models have intelligent

charging electronics that ensure the current-flow sinks below 0.1 Watts after the battery

is charged. Values less than 3.0 Watts, in Samsung‘s Q10, for instance, are acceptable.

This is known as ‗conservation charging‘ [1].

6.6.2 Printers and multifunctional devices:

Usually, monochromatic laser printers require less electricity than color lasers. And this

is true even in the standby mode. Color lasers use more energy when they go into the

standby mode instead of the sleep mode. All color lasers require more than 10 Watts

when they are in standby. To conserve energy, check the settings in the printer driver

[1].

6.6.3 Communications and network:

W-LAN routers, DSL modems and DECT telephones do not have a standby mode since

they must always be ready for operation. But low power consumption is a must since

these devices are on 24 hours a day, seven days a week [1].

6.6.4 External hard disks:

Users are increasingly buying 3.5 inch external hard disks as backup devices for desktop

and notebook computers. These are also being used to extend the system storage. Once

connected, it‘s easy to forget that its power supply continues to draw power, even when

nothing is being read or written to the disk. Only a few models have sophisticated

power-saving mechanisms; Seagate devices are quite commendable. Most devices do

not have a ‗Power‘ button. The 3.5-inch hard drives need 12 Volts and therefore they

have an external power supply unit (power brick). But 2.5-inch drives require just 5

Volts and they can draw power from the PC via a USB cable. Since they draw power

from the PC‘s power supply unit, the 2.5-inch drives will switch off automatically when

the PC shuts down. Drive manufacturers are now incorporating features such as the

reduced RPM low-power idle mode [1].

6.6.5 DVD and video:

Older DVD players and recorders are power hogs. Some devices consume up to 25

Watts in the standby mode and a switch-off button is absent. You can save energy in

most such devices with a simple trick: The HF amplifier in DVD recorders is

responsible for consuming a good amount of electricity in the standby mode. The

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amplifier refreshes the incoming antenna signal for the television, which is perhaps

connected with an antenna cable. If one places the recorder and the television next to

each other and connects them to the antenna using a T-connector, this amplification is

rendered useless. Many devices have the option of completely deactivating the HF

output in the set-up. Older video recorders often have sliding switches for this [1].

6.6.6 Cisco:

Some of the activities Cisco follows include: review of energy efficiency concepts,

enhance and standardize recycling programs and green cleaning, explore transportation

services and landscaping/parking for sustainability opportunities, incorporate LEED

certification and energy collection data requests in future site selection criteria and

standard lease agreements [1].

6.6.7 Aladdin:

Aladdin has a global initiative to ‗Go Green.‘ From the earliest stages of product design,

through manufacturing, use, and recycling, it ensures that its activities and products are

environment-friendly. So its factories and production comply with ISO environmental

standards. Aladdin claims that it is fully RoHS compliant too. It has set up recycling

bins in all its offices for bottles, plastics, and paper. It encourages its employees to save

paper too [1].

6.6.8 D-Link:

D-Link claims its ‗green‘ products have been compliant with RoHS since 2006 and with

WEEE since 2005. D-Link‘s Green Ethernet technology saves power when desktop-to-

switches are idle and optimized power usage on detection of cable length. Most

switches today still consume considerable power even when a cable link or desktops-to

switch is turned off. D-Link‘s Green Ethernet technology will put the port in a sleep

mode, thus reducing power used by that port. Usually, most switches send enough

power to sustain data over a 100m cable regardless of the actual cable length. In a

typical users‘ environment, however, the cable is usually less than 20m. But Green

Ethernet technology will automatically detect the cable length and optimally adjust

power usage to save energy [1].

6.6.9 Climate Savers Overview:

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It is started by Google and Intel to drive energy efficiency by increasing the energy

efficiency of new PCs & servers and promoting the use of power management. We can

reduce global CO2 emissions from the operation of computers by 54 million tons a year

by 2010. That‘s like taking 11 million cars off the road each year [R2].

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Conclusion

Businesses seeking a cost-effective way to responsibly recycle large amounts of

computer equipment face a more complicated process. They also have the option of

contacting the manufacturers and arranging recycling options. However, in cases where

the computer equipment comes from a wide variety of manufacturers, it may be more

efficient to hire a third-party contractor to handle the recycling arrangements. There

exist companies that specialize in corporate computer disposal services both offer

disposal and recycling services in compliance with local laws and regulations. Such

companies frequently also offer secure data elimination services [2].

So far, consumers haven't cared about ecological impact when buying computers,

they've cared only about speed and price. But as Moore's Law marches on and

computers commoditize, consumers will become pickier about being green. Devices use

less and less power while renewable energy gets more and more portable and effective.

New green materials are developed every year, and many toxic ones are already being

replaced by them. The greenest computer will not miraculously fall from the sky one

day; it‘ll be the product of years of improvements. The features of a green computer of

tomorrow would be like: efficiency, manufacturing & materials, recyclability, service

model, self-powering, and other trends. Green computer will be one of the major

contributions which will break down the 'digital divide', the electronic gulf that

separates the information rich from the information poor [3].

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References

[1]. INTELLIGENT COMPUTING CHIP-GREEN COMPUTING

[2]. Jones, Ernesta " New Computer Efficiency Requirements". U.S. EPA

[3]. ‗Green IT For Dummies‘-Hewlett Packard Limited Edition

[4]. Report of the Green Computing Task Group Green Computing and the Environment

[5]. a b c San Murugesan, ―Harnessing Green IT: Principles and Practices,‖ IEEE IT

Professional, January-February 2008, pp 24-33.

[6]. ‖Green IT: Why Mid-Size Companies Are Investing Now‖

Resources

[R1]. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_computing

[R2]. www.climatesaverscomputing.org