Green Computing

GREEN COMPUTING RESEARCH PROJECT

We Are Big Incorporated are looking at possible applications of green computing as part of their strategic goal of reducing costs while also helping the environment. While green computing terms and methods are increasingly becoming well-known, an adequate definition of green computing should be reached and for the purposes of this project can be defined thus:

* Sustainability in computing/IT systems

* Responsible disposal of electronic waste

* Recycling programs

* Adoption of teleworking

* Server virtualization

Each of these profiles directly relate to using computing resources with a sense of environmental responsibility and covers the entire process involved with the use of computing equipment from the design of systems, manufacture, use and disposal of the computer systems and all peripheral items as well.

With this specific requirement we can then analyze each of the following areas as to how green computing technologies can be implemented and utilized.

Energy Efficiency

Energy utilization is one of the main environmental impacts caused by computing technologies. If we consider the data center configurations which are present in many organizations then there is a large amount of energy required in cooling systems as well as the servers and computer hardware themselves. Efficiency methods here can include such simple steps as reducing the number of servers required to serve clients (either through virtualization or allocation of multiple roles) as well as using off-site data centers and cloud based technologies. Further efficiencies are available with the latest computer hardware able to run in low power modes when not being used with a zero watt output rating.

Disposal

Given the proliferation of computer equipment, especially in recent years one of the issues borne out of their ubiquitous nature has been the need to dispose of old and broken equipment. Legislation has been introduced to ensure that...