Green computing aims to improve the environmental impact of computer technology through measures such as advanced power management, alternative energy sources, and non-hazardous materials. Companies may focus on energy efficiency, manufacturing processes, or offsetting carbon emissions. Smaller computers generally require less energy, and some businesses adopt green computing for financial reasons.
Green computing is a movement to apply higher environmental standards to the production, use and disposal of computer technology. Examples include computers with advanced power management systems, computers built to run on alternative energy sources, and computers made without environmentally hazardous materials. Green computing is also a way of using computers that takes into account their energy consumption and can result in placing some of the responsibility for a computer’s carbon emissions on the consumer.
In some cases, green computing may apply strictly to the manufacturing process used to create a computer. Some companies take special measures to ensure that their manufacturing process does not pollute the environment. Other companies find ways to offset any future energy use involving their computer components. There are special companies that allow individuals and other companies to pay carbon offsetting taxes, and then generally put that money towards environmentally friendly activities to offset carbon emissions. Some green computing companies take advantage of these services and may even use their green status as part of an advertising campaign.
One of the main ways companies apply green computing concepts is in the area of energy efficiency. Many computer systems are designed so that components turn off on their own to reduce power consumption when not in use. Another approach is to simply design components that do the same job using less energy.
As a general rule, smaller computers require less energy to run, and this has been one reason why some consumers have embraced smaller hardware. For example, a desktop computer generally requires more energy over its lifetime than a laptop or notebook. Smaller computers are often weaker in terms of computing power, but this difference can be relatively insignificant for most basic computing tasks. In some cases, a consumer can apply green computing ideas simply by choosing to use a notebook or laptop as the primary system.
In the business world, some business leaders are embracing the idea of green computing purely for financial reasons. This is generally focused on reducing the company’s energy bills and there may not be any green thinking involved in the decision. These companies often have strict requirements on employee activities, asking them to reduce energy consumption at work by turning off devices at certain times and other measures.
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