The Internet

The Internet… economic and environmental impact of

In short, in this section of the research paper/project, I will be discussing the economic and environmental impact that the internet has had as a whole. Inarguably, economical aspects speak for themselves. No one can say there has been a negative impact from what I have researched thus far. On the other hand, several environmentalists will argue that there have been some negative impacts due to the internet since its premier. I will discuss any and all types of both negative and positive environmental impacts the internet has since spawned as well as an overview of the economy and the internet.

The environmental impact of the Internet

Posted on 2005-12-10 12:43 UTC to "Business" "Politics".

On the negative, remember California's power crisis? Who was partly to blame? The computing industry. We create computers that draw enormous amounts of power, throw off huge amounts of heat, which requires the world to build power plants and install power hungry air conditioners. Here's a little known fact for you: Google's and Yahoo!'s second largest operating expense - after the people they employ is... electricity. That's why they're building datacenters next to smelting plants. Seriously. Read this.

Three MILLION people a week are joining the internet. If each gets a Dell PC, consuming 200 watts, that's 10-20 GIGAwatts of new power draw and a massive impact on the planet. If we're serious about creating technologies developing companies and economies can afford, something has to change.

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And both bet on a simple premise. Over my lifetime, I will consume roughly three times the power my parents consumed - and they, roughly three times their parents. As that trend continues, energy efficiency will become a competitive advantage for Sun (alongside Toyota, Boeing and GE) - and an environmental imperative for governments and voters. You may not care about it in your den, but multiply your...