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 tend 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).
Why GreenIT?
Green IT is becoming immensely important because, the world's appetite for energy is outpacing production of renewable and non-renewable resources. Also the world is too densely populated to escape the effects of Greenhouse gas emissions, electronic waste disposal and toxic production methods. The ICT is both part of the problem and a key to the solution. Therefore GreenIT requires combining social responsibility, smart resource use and technological innovation.
E-Waste and U-Waste reduction programs are no longer voluntary
Since 2005, European Union countries have held manufacturers financially responsible for compliance to the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive requiring all manufacturers of electrical and electronic equipment to pay for recycling costs.
The EU has adopted laws for the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (ROHS). France penalizes violators of the regulation 1500 Euros per incident; Ireland takes a harsher stance with a fine of 15,000 Euros.
Green IT innovation leads the way to Sustainability
Radical improvements in waste reduction and energy use rely on innovative applications of IT:
- Tele-work can reduce not only automobile travel but overall energy use by reducing the amount of dedicated office space.
- Smart energy applications adjust energy utilization to real time need patterns and climate conditions, resulting in drastic reductions in waste.
- Virtualization can eliminate wasteful network equipment, reducing energy and floor space
Customers Demand Sustainable Behavior
Corporate Social Responsibility reports are increasingly expected of companies. Sometimes, as in the case of the Carbon Disclosure Project, companies are asked to produce such a report of the same comprehensiveness and attention to detail as their financial reports.
ISO 14000, a specification for establishing environmental policy and determining the impact of a company’s products, activities and services, was adopted by the EU in 2001. It establishes standards for environmental auditing, labeling and life cycle assessment. Enterprises certified to ISO 14000 demonstrate commitment to Green policy.
With a mind toward increasing brand equity, Dell recently announced its intention to be the “greenest computer company on earth”, an initiative that puts it in competition with Hewlett-Packard for the same high ground. Other companies adopting similar mantles include IBM, Sun Microsystems, and AMD, to name a very few.
In 2006, WalMart, the world’s largest retailer, adopted a directive for Ethical Sourcing which required all its suppliers, among other practices, to provide a healthy environment for their workers, to strictly follow fair labor laws, and to use nontoxic materials.
Customers shop for Green Supply Chains
Public and private sector procurement departments are incorporating Environmentally Preferred Purchasing (EPP) requirements into IT contracts. To do that requires Purchasing to work with both IT and Sustainability specialists to understand what is desirable and possible. Major global corporations such as Coca Cola, Sharp, BT, to name a few, have launched programs to evaluate the life-cycle environmental footprint of products they sell and assess the environmental policies of their suppliers. Communicating and educating suppliers on expectations is a basic part of any sustainable supply-chain initiative.
Often, companies get compliance from their supply chain by enforcing adherence requirements. Examples of these are the requirements to use less material, to use post consumer recyclable content, and to purchase all packaging materials from certified forests.
For more details on the GreenIT initiatives please refer http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_IT, GreenIT toolkit, Lowpower Computing, http://www.hsenid.com/gogreen.html
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