Green Computing Technologies

What is green computing?

Green computing is the environmentally responsible and eco-friendly use of computers and their resources. In broader terms, it is also defined as the study of designing, engineering, manufacturing, using and disposing of computing devices in a way that reduces their environmental impact.Many IT manufacturers and vendors are continuously investing in designing energy-efficient computing devices, reducing the use of dangerous materials and encouraging the recyclability of digital devices. Green computing practices came into prominence in 1992, when the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) launched the Energy Star program.https://www.esds.co.in/private-c...

What are the advantages of green computing?

Advantages Of Green Computing:Reduced energy usage from green computing techniques translates into lower carbon dioxide emissions, stemming from a reduction in the fossil fuel used in power plants and transportation.Conserving resources means less energy is required to produce, use, and dispose of products.Saving energy and resources saves moneyGreen computing even includes changing government policy to encourage recycling and lowering energy use by individuals and businesses.Reduce the risk existing in the laptops such as chemical known to cause cancer, nerve damage and immune reactions in humans.

Is Cloud Computing Green?

Arguable. One the one side:What is not counted is all the machines that go whirring on the way from "the cloud" to your use-and-throw-away-thin-client device (hint: mobile phones and tablets).Jevons paradox applies to Cloud computing too, I think. The more stuff moves to the cloud, the more reliable it gets and as a result more people start using it... this run away positive feedback loop results in overall net usage increase.There is a (non-negligible) net overhead taken up by virtualization which makes cloud possible. Without virtualization we will need lesser number of servers (although it will be painful to manage those servers). On the other side:Forces consolidation: cloud is forcing people to "reuse *-as-a-Service providers". So, instead of everybody running mail servers and DNS servers and what not with poor utilization, people get to consolidate and reuse centralised services.But I think, in the long run, Cloud only results in more usage and hence it is not "Green".

How can green computing be done on a college campus?

You have already an anwer and I agree mostly with it.There is no such thing as green computing. Computing is a human activity and like most human activities is not good for the environment.If you need to do computing, as I suppose you need otherwise you would not ask the question, there are 2 things to look at:wasteE-waste is a problem and should be minimized. Try to use your equipment as long as possible. If you have a laptop with an degraded battery and the speed is still fast enough, consider just replacing the battery. Look on Internet or ask your supplier for the exact type of battery. If you are missing speed and still have an old mechanical disk consider upgrading to an SSD. Make sure your computer is not slowed by lack of memory. If you have a Windows 10 computer with less than 4GB, you have a problem. On a new computer I do not recommend less than 8GB. If that is the ONLY problem, memory can be added cheaply.Do not buy very cheap computers which need to be replaced 2 years later due to lack of performance.Desktops usualy last longerr than laptops.EnergyYou can buy “green” electricity. In most cases this means the provider needs an green certificate for your electricity. This is provided by producers of “green” electricity (solar, wind, hydro, biomass, geothermal, …). This means that for every kWh of electricity a kWh of “green” electricity is created and consumed by somebody. Its perhaps not you, but for the overall production of electricity it does not matter. You should also try to use as little as possible electricity. Use efficient hardware and shut computers down when not in use (or use hibernation). Set-up your Windows (or other OS) for energy savings by lowering your screenintensity if you are not at the PC for a few minutes.If you have to setup a computerroom try to get a room on the sunless site of the building. (north in the northern hemisphere, south in the southern hemisphere) You will need less cooling in summer. Use efficient cooling equipment.It is also possible to use the cloud. Companies like Google, Amazon and Microsoft often install datacenters in cold places and run very efficient servers. These big companies buy a lot of renewable electricity.I hope this answers your question.