What is green computing?
Green computing is utilizing computing devices, systems, and resources in an ecologically responsible way. It is a study and research of developing, designing, engineering, manufacturing, utilizing, and disposing of computing modules and devices to minimize environmental risks and pollution.
In 1992, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) launched the Energy Star Program to boost and praise energy efficiency. The program is the inspiration for the widespread use of sleep mode across IT, and it has spurred several other efforts to promote green computing. Many non-Energy Star certified appliances are available, which might cost less than their Energy Star counterparts. Although these products may be cheaper to purchase initially, long-term savings on utility bills may not materialize because of differences in power management abilities.The power consumed to run computers is estimated at $250 billion yearly, less than 15% of which is spent on computing. The rest is wasted idling, not used for computing. The most significant reason for CO2 emission is the energy consumed; therefore, energy saved on computer hardware and computing equals tons of carbon emissions prevented each year. The Energy Star program, a controlled labeling initiative to encourage and recognize energy efficiency, was created by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Energy Star label has certified more than 75 different product categories, houses, commercial structures, and industrial plants. The initiative has also led to the widespread usage of sleep mode among gadget users.
The evolution of green computing
The efficiency of algorithms impacts the number of computer resources needed for any given computing function, and there are several efficiency trade-offs in programming. The number of resources consumed by a specific task can significantly decline when the algorithm changes from a slow (e.g., linear) search algorithm to a fast (e.g., hashed or indexed) search technique. Applying algorithms may route data to data centers with lower power costs. An energy allocation algorithm developed by MIT, Carnegie Mellon University, and Akamai has been tested and shown to route traffic to the location with the lowest energy expenses. The researchers estimate that with their proposed technique, customers will save up to 40% on energy bills. This method, however, does not reduce the amount of energy consumed; it only lowers the cost to the company using it. Nonetheless, a similar approach may be utilized to send visitors to the energy generated more environmentally friendly or efficient. This has also been done to reduce energy usage by routing people away from data centers with hot temperatures, enabling computers to shut down and avoid air conditioning.
Resource and algorithmic efficiency
Green computing’s main topics and initiatives are as follows:
- Energy consumption: Minimizing the electricity consumption of computers and their peripheral devices and using them in an eco-friendly manner.
- Green disposal: Disposing and recycling unwanted computing devices.
- Green development and design: Design and development of energy-efficient computers, servers, printers, projectors, and other digital devices. Usage of energy harvesting technologies in the computer industry.
- Green manufacturing: Recycling electronic components and modules during manufacturing computers and their peripheral devices. Minimizing waste during manufacturing to reduce the environmental impact of these activities.
