green computing presenter: nikola stoikov. the cases illustrate that the transition of businesses...
TRANSCRIPT
Green Computing
Presenter: Nikola Stoikov
The cases illustrate that the transition of businesses towards green computing has not only proven to be a way to push down costs but also to commence an era in computing that aims at offsetting the carbon footprint of technology.
The computer industry has benefited our society in a tremendous way so it is difficult for us to imagine that it has a dark side. Indeed, the communications and information industry has a great polluting potential. According to a report by the European Social Investment Forum “the sector is responsible for about two percent of global carbon emissions — or about as much as from air transport” (Kanter).
Corporations that have huge data centers struggle to find ways to keep them cool. There are several alternatives available to the business and social problems that data center power consumptions cause. Companies end up investing in cooling systems that require the cash up front, which is then added to the huge increase in power consumption.
Another possible alternative for data centers like Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center is a cooling solution referred to as Liebert XD which is a cooling system that is placed on top of the servers with the air being cooled by “pipes containing waterless refrigerant.”
HP’s Solution
Verizon Wireless
Problem Solution(s) Goal
Power-hungry servers Google’s Green Initiative: Efficient Servers and Efficient Data Centers Reduce carbon footprint;Reduce energy consumption;
Microsoft and HSBC: data centers using hydroelectric power Reduce energy consumption;Offsetting the carbon footprint;
Salesforce.com: investment in renewable energy projects and alternative energy sources
Offsetting its carbon footprint;
HP: replacing copper wiring of microprocessors with light pulses Reduce carbon footprint;Be able to measure energy use and carbon emissions;
Verizon Wireless: thin client computers Conserving energy;Reduce carbon footprint;
City University of New York: Surveyor software Conserving energy;Reduce carbon footprint;
University of Pittsburg Medical Center: adopted virtualization Achieving cost-effective greener computing;
Depletion of fresh water Google’s Green Initiative: Efficient Water Management Switch to 100% recycled water;
Proper Equipment Retirement Google’s Green Initiative: Server Retirement Reduce carbon footprint;Safe Disposing of Servers;
Heat Generated from Servers Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center: a network of overhead air conditioners
Reduce energy consumption;Reduce carbon footprint;
Emerson Network Power: Liebert XD cooling system Reduce the negative impact on the environment;Keep temperature in data centers down;
Degree Controls Inc: floor tiles equipped with powerful fans Reduce the negative impact on the environment;Keep temperature in data centers down;
Google in particular has pledged to a more efficient computing that has less of a negative impact on the environment. Most of the energy consumption of Google comes from their data centers (Going Green at Google).
Activity Google searches
CO2 emissions of an average daily newspaper (100% recycled paper) 850
A glass of orange juice 1,050
One load of dishes in an EnergyStar dishwasher 5,100
A five mile trip in the average U.S. automobile 10,000
A cheeseburger 15,000
Electricity consumed by the average US household in one month 3,100,000
Google’s Green Initiative
The company has created and put into practice a five-step plan to ensure that it meet its sustainability and businesses goals.
Minimize electricity used by servers;
Reduce the energy used by the data center facilities themselves;
Conserve precious fresh water by using recycled water instead;
Reuse or recycle all electronic equipment that leaves our data centers;
Engage with our peers to advance smarter energy practices;
GoogleGoogle Goes Green
Nowadays, green computing is a hot topic among the top companies in the communications and information industry. Going green is the way to go not only for businesses that are concerned with high energy bills but also a way to be socially and environmentally aware. Innovations in air conditioning, new software and hardware applications, and virtualization enable the computing industry to cut down on energy consumption, reduce the use of fresh water to power up data centers, and ultimately offset their carbon footprint.
Thank you for your attention