2012
Green Computing
Maximizing and Conserving Resources
Eco Enterprises, Inc.
Hewlett-Packard Company

2012
Green Computing
Maximizing and Conserving Resources
Eco Enterprises, Inc.
Hewlett-Packard Company

Contents Green Computing 1 Energy Star 1 Power Consumption 1 Reducing Environmental Impact 3 Effective Measures 3 Recycling Computer Equipment 3 Individual Steps 4 Index 5

Green Computing
Computer manufacturing processes and computer waste are depleting natural resources and polluting the environment. When computers are discarded in landfills, they can release toxic materials and potentially dangerous levels of lead, mercury, and flame retardants.
Green computing involves reducing the electricity consumed and environmental waste generated when using a computer. Strategies that support green computing include recycling, regulating manufacturing processes, extending the life of computers, and immediately donating or properly disposing of replaced computers. When you purchase a new computer, some retailers offer to dispose of your old computer properly.
People use, and often waste, resources such as electricity and paper while using a computer. Society has become aware of this waste and is taking measures to combat it.
Energy Star
Personal computers, display devices, and printers should comply with guidelines of the ENERGY STAR program. The United States Department of Energy (DOE) and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) developed the ENERGY STAR program to help reduce the amount of electricity used by computers and related devices. This program encourages manufacturers to create energy-efficient devices that require little power when they are not in use. For example, many devices switch to sleep or power save mode after a specific number of inactive minutes or hours. Computers and devices that meet the ENERGY STAR guidelines display an ENERGY STAR label.
Power Consumption
A recent study showed that organizational computer facilities, or data centers, in the United States consumed as much power as about six million households, and if no measures are taken to reduce consumption, the number is expected to continue rising quickly. Data center resources that consume power include computer hardware and associated devices, uninterruptible power supplies, and utilities such as air conditioning, coolers, lighting, etc. To put this enormous usage into perspective, the world’s data centers emit more gas than do people living in Argentina and the Netherlands, which have a combined population of 57.2 million.
Reducing Environmental Impact
Each of the estimated 1 billion-plus computers in the world emits an average of 1,000 pounds of carbon dioxide each year. A single desktop computer and 17-inch monitor that always are turned on release 750 pounds of carbon dioxide in one year, which is the same amount of carbon dioxide released by a car driven 820 miles. Many computer users can help reduce their carbon footprint with the help of devices that monitor energy consumption. Various companies market smart metering devices that track power usage and give automated tips on how to reduce energy costs.
The United States Department of Energy has determined that businesses and schools can reduce their energy consumption up to 20 percent by using asset management software. This type of software can determine energy consumption and then ensure that appliances and electronic devices are operating at peak efficiency with the lowest operating costs. Another type of program, power management software, helps conserve a computer’s electricity consumption while maintaining acceptable performance. The program determines when a computer is inactive and, in turn, powers down the computer.
Effective Measures
Organizations can implement a variety of measures to reduce electrical waste, including the following: * Consolidate servers by using virtualization. Virtualization is the practice of sharing or pooling computing resources, such as servers. An added benefit of virtualization is that, because it uses less hardware, the software and support costs also might decrease. * Purchase high-efficiency equipment, such as uninterruptible power supplies and storage devices. * Use sleep modes and other power management features for computers and devices. * Buy computers with lower power consumption processors and power supplies. * When possible, use outside air to cool the data center.
Some organizations continually review their power usage effectiveness (PUE), which is a ratio that measures how much power enters the computer facility, or data center, against the amount of power required to run the computers.
Recycling Computer Equipment
Users should not store obsolete computers and devices in their basement, storage room, attic, warehouse, or any other location. Computers, monitors, and other equipment contain toxic materials and potentially dangerous elements including lead, mercury, and flame retardants. In a landfill, these materials release into the environment via the groundwater. If they are incinerated, the toxins are released into the air.
Recycling and refurbishing old computer equipment are much safer alternatives for the environment. Manufacturers can use the millions of pounds of recycled raw materials to make products such as outdoor furniture and automotive parts. In addition, personal computers contain valuable metals that can be recycled, including gold, silver, and copper.
In addition to the computers themselves, other related items should be recycled, as well, including toner and ink cartridges and batteries. The cartridge housing contains iron, metal and aluminum, all of which are not biodegradable. The ink toner inside the cartridges also contains toxic chemicals that pollute water and soil if discarded in landfills.
Experts estimate that more than one billion personal computers have been discarded to date. Because of the huge volumes of electronic waste, or e-waste, the United States federal government has proposed a bill that would require computer recycling across the country.
Many state and local governments have methods in place to make it easy for consumers to recycle this type of equipment. Many computer manufacturers, office supply stores, and other agencies offer free recycling to consumers and organizations.
Individual Steps
To reduce the environmental impact of computing further, users simply can alter a few habits. The following list offers suggestions about ways in which you, as an individual, can contribute to green computing. * Use computers and devices that comply with the ENERGY STAR program. * Do not leave the computer running overnight. * Turn off the monitor, printer, and other devices when not in use. * Use LCD monitors instead of CRT monitors. * Use paperless methods to communicate. * Recycle paper. * Buy recycled paper. * Recycle toner cartridges. * Recycle old computers printers, and other devices. * Telecommute to save gas. * Use video conferencing and VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) for meetings.

Index data centers 1
ENERGY STAR program 1 green computing 1 power usage effectiveness (PUE) 2
United States Department of Energy (DOE) 1
United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 1 virtualization 2