What is green computing, and what are its best practices? You may ask.
These are the steps you can implement to help reduce the impact of technology on the environment.
The pressure to reverse global climate change has risen in the past few years, and the adverse effects of global warming are quickly becoming a reality.
The most recent case is the flooding in New York- the second-largest startup ecosystem and, by extension, one of the fastest-growing tech hubs.
As of 2023, the Information and communication technology sector contributed up to 4% of global carbon emissions, so it shouldn’t be surprising that a city like New York floods.
Maintaining global warming to no more than 1.5°C per the Paris Agreement will require emissions to be reduced by 43% by 2030 and reach net zero by the year 2050.
This is why individuals, businesses, and organizations should collaborate to reduce their carbon footprint and ensure environmental sustainability.
As a business, you can achieve this by implementing green computing practices.
What is Green Computing?
Green computing is the design, development, use, and disposal of computers and associated components and technologies that minimize their negative environmental impact. It’s also known as green IT or sustainable IT.
It encompasses:
- Using energy-efficient machines and technologies
- Reducing carbon emissions
- Choosing technologies made from renewable raw materials and,
- Using Eco-friendly ways of disposing of e-waste.
8 Green Computing Practices You Can Implement
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, most businesses have had to create an online presence, which has heightened the need for computers and related modern technology.
Every component of modern technology- from as small as a laptop to as big as data centre servers carry a carbon tag. Green computing seeks to reduce this tag.
So, what are some of the green computing strategies you can apply in your business?
Monitor Your Energy Consumption
To implement green IT, you must first determine how much energy your business consumes. It helps when you break the consumption into different technologies.
For example, how much power do you use for heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Systems (HVAC), servers, networks, infrastructure, and storage?
Breaking down usage helps you know what technology and infrastructure are consuming more power and need to be made more energy efficient.
Employ Power Management Strategies
Once you identify your biggest power consumer, it’s crucial to develop strategies for reducing usage and ensuring better energy efficiency.
For one, you should switch off all the devices that are not in use. For example, you can turn off the central processing units when they aren’t used.
Alternatively, you can schedule blocks of time to use peripheral components like the printer. That way, it remains powered down when not in use, reducing energy consumption.
You can also use features like hibernating and sleeping modes for personal computers. Reducing the brightness of your screen also helps reduce the electricity consumed to keep your device on.
While these actions may seem trivial and inconsequential, they always have a big impact when taken collectively over time.
Set Up Hot and Cold Aisles
According to a report by the International Energy Agency, data centers account for 1-1.3% of the global electricity used in 2022. It further states that in 2020, data centers and transmission networks accounted for 1% of energy-related greenhouse emissions.
Therefore, organizations running data centers need to improve their green computing practices. They can do that by setting up hot and cold aisles. Arrange your data center based on its energy usage and temperature requirements.
For example, group colder assets and warmer ones on their aisle. This helps optimize heating and cooling, reducing the energy consumption of your HVAC system. Additionally, hot and cold aisles help reduce the cooling system’s burden, reducing its emissions when working.
Purchase Energy Efficient Devices and Technology
When choosing your IT infrastructure, go for the ones that are energy efficient. Although energy-efficient assets are often more expensive, they help you cut the cost of utility in the long run. They also significantly reduce your efforts at power management.
Look for devices with an Energy Star rating. The star rating is based on the energy efficiency of the devices.
Another way to purchase energy-efficient equipment is through logic. If a laptop can perform the same tasks as a desktop, choose the laptop because it consumes less power.
Update Your Equipment and Technology
Due to wear and tear, outdated technological equipment tends to consume more power and generate more heat.
Therefore, it’s crucial that you update your servers, computers, and other technologies with newer ones to implement sustainable IT.
New technologies are more eco-friendly because they’re built to be smarter and more energy efficient. Later in the article, you’ll see that you can replace servers with cloud storage.
You shouldn’t confuse buying newer equipment with unnecessary purchases of devices that add to e-waste. Only buy and update what you need.
Invest in Green Cloud Computing
Green cloud computing aims to use the least resources for the most computing work.
Traditionally, using a computer system meant that all components were powered on, even those not in use. This meant more power usage.
Today, cloud computing allows one server to support multiple users. Therefore, the energy previously used by one person is shared across multiple users, reducing power consumption.
Cloud computing also reduces the need for hardware resources, which helps conserve resources and reduce e-waste.
Use Green Energy
Another efficient way to reduce carbon emissions is to replace electricity with renewable energy, also known as green energy. This includes solar power, geothermal cooking, wind, and hydroelectric power.
Many businesses have already invested in solar power to meet their electricity needs. Most data centers now cool their facilities using solar, wind, geothermal, and hydroelectric power.
Inco-operate E-Waste Recycling
Electronic devices are made of plastics and metals like lead, iron, and copper. Unfortunately, every electronic device has a shelf life, after which it becomes useless.
Disposing of electronic waste (E-Waste) in landfills leads to plastic pollution, which ends up in our water and the food chain (microplastics). E-waste also exposes living things to toxins such as lead that sip into the ground and water bodies. Collectively, this pollution is hazardous.
That is why businesses must embrace e-waste recycling. While the software may be dead, the hardware can be recycled into new equipment. Therefore, embrace refurbished devices and partner with an e-waste recycling center for your waste.
What Is Green Computing? The Summary
Green computing practice will help you foster technological advancement without compromising the environment. If, as a business, you’ve been looking at how to reduce your carbon emissions and become eco-friendly, consider implementing these eight green IT strategies.