Definition of Green Computing / IT :
Simplified Definition of Green IT:
INTRODUCTION
An indisputably winning argument behind the implementation of green IT initiatives is based on business efficiency.
This is the same reason why businesses strive to be lean, improve their quality, and reengineer their processes.
Thus, while myriad reasons abound for why an organization should become green, the one reason that is beyond reproach is that "a green business is synonymous with an efficient business."
When a reduction in carbon is allied with the economic drivers of a business, the search for justifying the costs to optimize business processes and virtualized data servers become relatively straightforward.
Green IT is defined as "the study and practice of designing, manufacturing, using and disposing of computers, servers and associated subsystems (such as monitors, printers,storage devices, and networking and communication systems) efficiently and effectively with minimal or no imoact on the environment."
THE ENVIRONMENT TODAY
As mentioned earlier, whether human activity is the cause of change in the environment or not becomes a background conversation to improving business and achieving environmental outcomes In the process. It is this business-driven collaborative path that opens opportunity for corporate action.
Fig.1.1 information technology influences business, society, and environment – lead up to the sustainable triangle.
Fig shows that the information technology affects business, which in turn, influences the society and the overall environment in which the business exists. It in business makes use of massive computing and networking technologies that require large and dedicated data centers. The location of these data centers and the people who work in them are all socially affected by this use of IT by business. The direct influence of IT is seen in the massive proliferation of household gadgets, use of computers in schools and hospitals, the popularity of social networking, and the high level of communications technology.
A carefully constructed strategy for Green IT is a crucial enabler for an organizations overall transition toward an environmentally sustainable business.
The following are some of the specific ways in which a comprehensive Green IT strategy is beneficial to an organization:
- Incorporates environmental issues within the business strategies in way that is complementary to each other.
- Demonstrates the importance of environmental issues as one of the core business issues rather than merely good to have add on.
- Explores the possibilities of enhanced green performance to discover and develop new business opportunities.
- Expands the technologies of business intelligence for the purpose of reducing the organizations carbon foot print.
- Applies the concept of carbon efficiency to business processes leading up to green business process management and green process reengineering.
- Develops the idea of the carbon footprint of collaborative business processes that cut across multiple organizations and approaches to improve that collective carbon footprint.
- Proposes a Green enterprise architecture (GEA) that builds on the technologies of web services and cloud computing.
- Discusses the importance of people, their attitude, and approaches to Green IT that would bring about a positive change without condemnation.
- Expands on the role of Green HR including the training and positioning of roles and responsibilities in the green space.
- Expands on the vital role of business leadership in bringing about positive green change across the organization.
- Presents the legal and political aspects the international protocols on greenhouse gases (GHGs).
- Argues for the use of ISO 14001 family of standard for the environment within the organization.
- Discusses the metrics and measurements related to carbon data with an aim of understanding and mitigating the sources of carbon generation within and outside the organization.
- Incorporates the use of mobile technologies and smart metering for real-time measurements and use of carbon data.
- Discusses and advises on the use of Carbon Emissions Management Software (CEMS) in the context of carbon metrics, measurements and reporting.
- Outlines the approach to Green IT audits for reporting and compliance.
- Explores the futuristic issues impacting environmental performance of an organization.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT
IT is an inseparable, integral part of modern business. In fact, IT is so closely intertwined with business processes that is difficult to imagine any modern core business without IT. In addition to being an integral support to business processes, IT particularly with communications technologies, is a creative cause for many new and wide-ranging business interactions. The synergy between business and IT implies that growth in business also implies corresponding growth in IT. This in turn, also implies greater IT based carbon generation.
The fig. depict this ongoing interplay between the business and the environment. The IT sheath that encompasses the business is shown on the left. Any business activity that involves IT and most does impacts the environment. The carbon impact is shown by an arrow from left to right.
This impact of business activities through IT on the environment has to be understood in three ways:
- From the length of time
- The depth of activity from the length of time,
- The depth of activity, and the breadth of coverage of the carbon effect.
Following are specific areas of IT systems, processes, architecture, and people that impact the carbon footprint of an organization. These respective IT areas have a dual influence: the increase in business activities through these packages increases the carbon foot print of the organization, but the optimization of the business and backend IT servers and networks has the potential to reduce the carbon footprint of the organization. These IT areas are discussed as follows:
Software applications and packages : These are the existing ERP/CRM applications within the organization that need to undergo a major revamp to incorporate green factors. The carbon data form within the organizations are measured through various means such as smart meters, are inputted directly by users or updated through interfaces from other systems. Carbon usage data are then fed into the financial type calculators of the organization to ascertain the corresponding carbon calculations.
Carbon trading applications: with potential carbon trading on cards, these organizational applications will also be geared toward performing analytics on the real time data that will enable the organization to figure out trends in its own carbon performance as well as that of the market. Carbon reporting tools will play equally significant role in the carbon economy.
Green enterprise architectures: This is the ground-up building of new enterprise architectures that take a fresh look at the enterprise applications from a green perspective.
Green Infrastructure: This is an area of IT that deals with the buildings, data centers, vehicles, and other non-movable and movable assets of the organization. The design, development, operations, and decommissioning of these IT and non-IT infrastructure assets of the organization needs to be investigated.
Governance standards (ITIL and CoBIT): the way in which the governance standards are implemented is also reflective of the organizations carbon initiative.
People: the attitude of the end users and the extent to which they are trained and educated in the efficient use of resources, and the feedback provided to them on their carbon usage is vital in the creation of green IT culture within and around the organization.
Dynamic Social Groups: The creation of social groups that reflect their usage and consumption patterns can lead to not only directed marketing and sales but also help the organization in its green credentials.
Wired and Wireless Communication: The way in which various communications technologies are exploding has connotations from green IT. Thus, the way in which these wired and wireless networks are configured and deployed will impact the carbon foot print of the organization.
Emerging Cloud Technologies: Computing is becoming increasingly decentralized and having a dedicated data center is no longer the privilege that it used to be. A cloud essentially enables sharing of large scale storage of data, corresponding computation, and analysis and reduces overall carbon.
Green Peripherals: This is the area of printers, copiers, shredders, and similar office equipment’s that are associated with IT and that contribute to the overall carbon of the organization. These peripherals have a substantial impact on the carbon footprint of a growing organization.
Renewable Energies: These include alternate sources of clean and green energies such as solar, wind , and nuclear. These energies will be treated separately in terms of their costs, and in terms of calculating their carbon contributions.
Development of efficiency solutions based on IT Systems: These solutions would include measurement, monitoring, and reporting on energy performance. These solutions would further monitor and control resource usage and energy consumption.
Design, Development, and use of power efficiency in IT and Non-IT Hardware : This would include not only power efficiency in electronic chip designs, but also expansion into green power grids and management of equipment through software and operating systems.
Adherence to regulations and standardization: Includes active participation in creation of new standards, agreements, and consortium-based protocols.
Recycling and Disposal of IT Hardware: This will impact the procurement as well as disposal aspect of IT that is associated with efficient design of equipment, as well as ethical disposal of the same when their use is consummated.
The Three Rs of Green IT
Unwanted computers, monitors and other hardware should not be thrown away as rubbish, as they will then end up in landfills and cause serious environmental problems. Instead, we should refurbish and reuse them, or dispose them in environmentally sound ways. Reuse, refurbish and recycle are the three ‘Rs’ of greening unwanted hardware.
Reuse.
Many organizations and individuals buy new computers for each project or once every 2–3 years. Instead, we should make use of an older computer if it meets our requirements. Otherwise, we should give it to someone who could use it in another project or unit. By using hardware for a longer period of time, we can reduce the total environmental footprint caused by computer manufacturing and disposal.
Refurbish.
We can refurbish and upgrade old computers and servers to meet our new requirements. We can make an old computer and other IT hardware almost new again by reconditioning and replacing some parts. Rather than buying a new computer to our specifications, we can also buy refurbished IT hardware in the market. More enterprises are now open to purchasing refurbished IT hardware, and the market for refurbished equipment is growing. If these options are unsuitable, we can donate the equipment to charities, schools or someone in need, or we can trade in our computers.
Recycle.
When we cannot refurbish or otherwise reuse computers, we must dispose of them in environmentally friendly ways by depositing them with recognized electronic recyclers or electronic waste (e-waste) collectors. E-waste – discarded computers and electronic goods – is one of the fastest-growing waste types and poses serious environmental problems. The United Nations Environment Program estimates that 20–50 million tons of e-waste is generated worldwide each year, and this is increasing. IT hardware contains toxic materials like lead, chromium, cadmium and mercury. If we bury IT hardware in landfills, toxic materials can leach harmful chemicals into waterways and the environment. If burned, they release toxic gases into the air we breathe. So if e-waste is not discarded properly, it can harm the environment and us. Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) regulations aim to reduce the amount of e-waste going to landfills and increase recovery and recycling rates.
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