Green it

Current Topics In Computer
Technology
Green IT
Rohana K Amarakoon
B.Sc (SUSL), MBCS (UK), MBA (AUS-Reading)

Content
1. What is Green IT
2. Why Green IT
3. How organizations could apply Green IT
4. Practical application of Green IT
5. Advantages of Green IT
2PST 32220 - Current Topics In Computer Technology (Lecturer : Mr. Rohana K Amarakoon)

Content
6. Problem and limitation of Green IT
7. Global Trends in Green IT
8. Expected Outcomes

1. What Is Green IT
• Green IT stands for Green Information Technology.
• The Green IT is composed of two things:
1. Minimizing the negative impact of information technology use on the.
2. Environment Using information technology to help solve environmental issues.
• Green IT is a set of practical measures designed to ensure that Information Technology is
developed, delivered and used in a way that is environmentally friendly, sustainable and energy
efficient.

1. What Is Green IT
• Green IT is a collection of strategic and tactical initiatives that directly reduces the carbon
footprint of an organization’s computing operation. Also the study and practice of using
computing resources in an efficient, effective and economic way.
• Green IT starts with manufacturers producing environmentally friendly products and encouraging
IT departments to consider more friendly options like virtualization, power management and
proper recycling habits.
• Also includes Increasing hardware utilization, reducing life-cycle costs and looking for ways to cut
down on computer waste.

2. Why Green IT
• Rising energy demand with a more limited supply and increasing utility costs.
• Management of hazardous waste and electronic equipment disposal (e-waste).
• Increasing gasoline costs, which drive up employee commuting costs leading to
retention issues. Rising transportation costs and travel complexities.
• Increasing real estate and building rental
• A stronger regulatory climate at the federal, state and local levels

3. How Organizations Could Apply Green IT
• The green IT concept can be applied in to any of organization in following ways.
1. Reducing Environmental Waste
2. Improving Energy Efficiency
3. Green IT Purchasing

1. Reducing Environmental Waste
The first step to take in going to a green IT system is to look at ways that can reduce office’s
electronic waste. The office can start with the computers of its employees use and how dispose
of them.
A typical desktop computer contains a kilogram of lead and a number of dangerous chemicals
that includes arsenic, boron, and nitric acid. Computers become outdated within a few years
and need to be replaced regularly to keep office efficiency up.
Before dispose of old computers, consider other ways that can use them. For starters, office
could salvage them for parts needed for hardware repairs or could donate the old computers to
families who can make use of them, thus keeping them out of landfills.

2. Improving Energy Efficiency
One great initiative that can help makes the IT department greener while also saving the
company money is to encourage better energy consumption.
Many offices leave their computers on at all times, which over one year creates carbon
emissions equal to over 2,000 cars on the road for a day. By turning off computers at night or
when not in use for a long period of time, can save thousands of kilowatts of electricity and
dramatically decrease the company’s energy bill at the same time.
The IT department can also adjust power settings on computers so they go into standby after
shorter period of inactivity, thus saving power during meetings or on lunch breaks.

3. Green IT Purchasing
Another green information technology step that can take involves controlling company’s
purchasing of new equipment. Evaluate company needs carefully and determine what
technology will help the environment while saving money at the same time.
When ordering new monitors, choose LCD monitors to use less energy. Encourage the use of
laptops or tablets over more wasteful desktop models. Seek out laser printers and copiers that
have effective hibernation modes that leave them powered down when not in use.
Most importantly, go to a paperless system wherever possible. One of the biggest wastes in any
office comes from the massive amount of paper needless used on a daily basis.

4. Practical Applications of Green IT
• The green computing and the green IT is the same concept. So, we can identify
the below approach under the green IT.
1. Product longevity
2. Algorithmic efficiency
3. Resource allocation
4. Virtualization
5. Terminal servers
6. Power management
7. Power supply
8. Operating system support
9. Store
10. Display
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11. Materials recycling
12. Data Center
PST 32220 - Current Topics In Computer Technology (Lecturer : Mr. Rohana K Amarakoon)

1. Product longevity
We use the more natural resource, when we develop new computer. But we can make the
reused part of that product and fixed it .Then product life time can be extend.
As example the manufacturing a new PC makes a far bigger ecological footprint than
manufacturing a new RAM module to upgrade an existing one, a common upgrade that
saves the user having to purchase a new computer.
Ex/ manufacturing a new RAM module to upgrade an existing one.

2. Algorithmic efficiency
The efficiency of algorithms has an impact on the amount of computer resources required
for any given computing function and there are many efficiency trade-offs in writing
programs.
As computers have become more numerous and the cost of hardware has declined relative
to the cost of energy, the energy efficiency and environmental impact of computing
systems and programs has received increased attention.
Ex/switching from a slow search algorithm to a fast is reduce the search time and the
power wastage.

3. Resource allocation
In this approach used algorithms which can also be used to route data to data centers
where electricity is less expensive. Some university in the world tests these algorithms
successfully.( As Example Carnegie Mellon University and Akamai.)
This help to save 40 percentage electronic cost .Also a similar approach has been used to
cut energy usage by routing traffic away from data centers experiencing warm weather;
this allows computers to be shut down to avoid using air conditioning.
EX/energy allocation algorithm used routes traffic to the data centers location with the
cheapest energy costs.

4. Virtualization
Here the system administrator could combine several physical systems into virtual
machines on one single, powerful system, thereby unplugging the original hardware and
reducing power and cooling consumption.
Several commercial companies and open-source projects now offer software packages to
enable a transition to virtual computing.
Example:- Intel Corporation and AMD have also built proprietary virtualization
enhancements to the x86 instruction set into each of their CPU product lines, in order to
facilitate virtualized computing.

5. Terminal servers
Terminal servers have also been used in green computing. When using the system, users at
a terminal connect to a central server; all of the actual computing is done on the server,
but the end user experiences the operating system on the terminal.
These can be combined with thin clients, who use up to 1/8 the amount of energy of a
normal workstation, resulting in a decrease of energy costs and consumption. There has
been an increase in using terminal services with thin clients to create virtual labs. There
has been an increase in using terminal services with thin clients to create virtual labs.
Examples: Terminal Services for Windows, Linux Terminal Server Project (LTSP) for the Linux
operating system.

6. Power management
Here consider the advance power management technique to control the power saving aspect
of the under Lear hardware in the computers.
The Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI), an open industry standard, regarding
the power saving. This allows a system to automatically turn off components such as monitors
and hard drives after set periods of inactivity.
In addition, a system may hibernate, where most components (including the CPU and the
system RAM) are turned off. ACPI is a successor to an earlier Intel-Microsoft standard called
Advanced Power Management, which allows a computer's BIOS to control power management
functions.

7. Power supply & consumption
Older power supply machine are have 70-75% of the efficient. But under new Energy Star 4.0-
certified desktop PSUs (Power Supply Units) must be at least 80% efficient. So this usage again
saves the world power usage and reduces the power wastage in computers.
IT companies use natural day light to lighten most of the working space. Also use the LED or
CFL bulbs to lighten the working space which cannot lighten the natural day light. Some of the
companies use solar power to fulfill the power demand which is zero pollution and reduce
carbon foot prints.
There are many other ways to reduce the power consumption and save more energy.

8. Operating system support
Modern operating systems which are developed by the deferent company are supports to more
power saving methods.
Operating system timers, processor power management and display panel brightness are some
of feathers support by the modern operating system.
Also there is a significant market in third-party PC power management software offering
features beyond those present in the Windows operating system.
Most products offer Active Directory integration and per-user/per-machine settings with the
more advanced offering multiple power plans, scheduled power plans, anti-insomnia features
and enterprise power usage reporting.
Ex/Multiple power plans, Third-party PC power management software.

9. Store
Smaller form factor hard disk drives often consume less power per gigabyte than physically
larger drives. The manufacturers of the world's fastest Solid State Storage devices,
managed to reduce the carbon footprint and operating costs of MySpace data centers by
80% while increasing performance speeds beyond that which had been attainable via
multiple hard disk drives in Raid 0..
Also most organization used the online or offline database server and backup to store data.
The increase in online storage has increased power consumption. Reducing the power
consumed by large storage arrays, while still providing the benefits of online storage, is a
subject of ongoing research.
EX/ My space, solid-state drives

10. Display
LCD monitors typically use a cold-cathode fluorescent bulb to provide light for the display.
Some newer displays use an array of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) in place of the fluorescent
bulb, which reduces the amount of electricity used by the display.

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11. Materials recycling
Recycling computing equipment can keep harmful materials such as lead, mercury, and
hexavalent chromium out of landfills, and can also replace equipment that otherwise would
need to be manufactured, saving further energy and emissions.
Computer systems that have outlived their particular function can be re-purposed, or donated
to various charities and non-profit organizations. So these metals can be reused to the
developed different equipment tools. Then we can reduce the environment pollution.

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12. Data Center
Due to the vast quantities of electricity needed to power and cool the center, the data
center is often one of the costliest portions of an IT organization.
Facilities issues, including expensive and inefficient cooling methods, can be improved or
eliminated to make the data center more environmentally friendly.
In addition to the high IT organizational costs, data centers contribute greatly to
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In the long term, the best answer to the power and
cooling issues is greater design focus at the component level, coupled with the ability to
manage power at a high level.
CIOs also need to plan on building future data centers in a modular way, so that power
consumption can be scaled with growth.

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12. Data centers should,
• Eliminate energy leaks
• Use innovative and more efficient cooling methods
• Replace high-density servers with virtual servers
• Use alternative storage tactics
• Reconfigure data center floor layouts
• Explore alternative energy sources

1. Reducing carbon and other GHG emissions
Proper asset disposal practices can eliminate toxic waste from entering landfill systems.
Recycling old equipment, when possible, decreases waste and can offer potential cost savings to
organizations that reuse IT assets. It can reduce the carbon and other GHG emissions.
In modern world increased legislation surrounding energy efficiency, toxic materials, and
greenhouse gases (GHG) in the United States, European Union, and China.

2. Increasing cooling efficiency in the data center
By leveraging local climates and using chilled loop and free cooling strategies, IT organizations can
decrease energy consumption through cooling practices.

3. Reducing energy costs
Rising energy costs over the past five years. Cloud Computing can be used to reduce the energy
costs. Green computing could save substantial amount of energy, cloud computing involves
replacing regular servers with the virtual ones.
The different areas where cloud computing finds application includes data storage, networking,
operating systems and software applications. The practice of switching off computers at night helps
in saving a considerable amount of energy.
The power supplied to scanners and printers should be cut off whenever these devices are not in
use. This practice can also save a considerable amount of energy.

4. Companies are saving tons of money
Green IT can save precious energy, time and money spent in manufacturing these electronic items.
Resources used and money spent in manufacturing an electronic item from scratch are far greater
than those needed for recycling it.
Green IT measures can be used for improving the algorithmic efficiency of computers. An efficient
algorithm makes minimum use of resources. Therefore, the productivity increases diversely and
saving money.

5. Reducing the amount of space need for servers
Cloud computing involves replacing regular servers with the virtual ones. Therefore cloud
computing can be used to reduce the need for servers.
Virtualization is a large part of reducing the amount of space need for servers, but there are other
solutions that businesses are implementing that helps green up their servers.

6. Helping to minimize their environmental impact
Green IT is reducing the carbon and other GHG emissions.
As it focuses on purchasing computing equipment that is more energy efficient and environmentally
friendly and includes programs to extend equipment useful life, recycle and engage with suppliers
that demonstrate a commitment to reducing hazardous materials in their manufacturing, packaging
and factory waste management programs.

1. Cost
Much of the technology associated with green living does provide benefits to the environment but
often at a much higher cost than their traditional counterparts. For instance, the use of solar panels
can potentially save you money on your energy bills, but they can cost thousands of dollars to
install.
Energy-efficient appliances are designed to use less electricity and water but they often come with
a high price tag.
The use of data centers established in cold places like North Pole region also causes in unnecessary
cost due to high maintenance and high quality and high cost equipment.

2. Payback period.
The time factor is also an issue in terms of the payback rate of certain green living investments.
For example, replacing regular light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) can help the
environment and save money, but it typically takes about four months for them to pay back the
difference in their cost.
Also for producing green IT products takes more cost while it unable to use for a long time.

3. Rapid technology change
With the rapid change in technology, world is innovating more consumer efficient product day by
day.
Because of that whether the product is sufficient with the need; consumers are willing to buy the
same product with new features. So it causes in dump the previous version. It also affect in the
green IT concept.
People are inventing new environmental friendly IT product, but with the rapid technology change
the product are not in use at the end. It increases the cost and wastage.

1. Green Data Centers
The move towards green in data centers, which are the largest part of the power-hungry IT
ecosystem, is evolving.
Data Centers may be contributing to over 15% of total energy usage by some organizations.
Better efficiencies, smarter cooling, use of alternative energy, and smarter utilization of data
resources are all part of this evolution.

2. Create a Green ROI Formula
A Green IT Return-on-Investment is a formula for both selling and justifying the need to change, and
what capital or investments in people or equipment will need to deliver on for Green IT plan.
If invest X,
What will be the ROI?
Will it be in customer appreciation?
Reduced costs?
New business opportunities?

3. Green IT Innovator
The key innovations in moving data, services, people, transactions and systems that will
demonstrate the commitment to being a Green IT innovator.
Finding clear green innovations that can implement in how move data, people, paper, systems,
transactions and communications is becoming a new trend in Green IT.

4. Serve Customers Smarter with Green IT
Green IT is an excellent way to serve customers and grow market share by being an innovator.
Green will affect customer buying decisions. Organizations should keep in mind, most customers are
green supporters, and they expect your organization to make change.
Also, organizations can use Green IT to teach their customers how to become green.

Expected Outcomes
• Understand about the why we need Green IT
• Understand about the nature and challenges for the Green IT
• Get to know about how we can consume less energy in an efficient way for our
working environment and client businesses
• Study about how we could save energy and protect environment through our day
to day activities.

Thank You!

Green it

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