Reducing Waste 3

VIA Technologies Green Computing

VIA Technologies, a Taiwanese company that manufactures motherboard chipsets, CPUs, and other computer hardware, introduced its initiative for "green computing" in 2001. With this green vision, the company has been focusing on power efficiency throughout the design and manufacturing process of its products. Its environmentally friendly products are manufactured using a range of clean-computing strategies, and the company is striving to educate markets on the benefits of green computing for the sake of the environment, as well as productivity and overall user experience.
Carbon-free computing

Carbon-free computing (Credit: VIA)

One of the VIA Technologies’ ideas is to reduce the "carbon footprint" of users — the amount of greenhouse gases produced, measured in units of carbon dioxide (CO2). Greenhouse gases naturally blanket the Earth and are responsible for its more or less stable temperature. An increase in the concentration of the main greenhouse gases — carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and fluorocarbons — is believed to be responsible for Earth's increasing temperature, which could lead to severe floods and droughts, rising sea levels, and other environmental effects, affecting both life and the world's economy. After the 1997 Kyoto Protocol for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the world has finally taken the first step in reducing emissions. The emissions are mainly a result of fossil-fuel-burning power plants. (In the United States, such electricity generation is responsible for 38 percent of the country’s carbon dioxide emissions.) VIA aims to offer the world's first PC products certified carbon free, taking responsibility for the amounts of CO2 they emit. The company works with environmental experts to calculate the electricity used by the device over its lifetime, generally three years. From this data, one can conclude how much carbon dioxide the device will emit into the atmosphere during its operation. This estimate will serve as an indicator, and the company will pay regional organizations for the “sequestering,” or offsetting, of the emissions. Offsetting carbon dioxide can be achieved in different ways. One way is to plant trees that absorb CO2 as they grow, in the region in which the processors were purchased. The necessary amount of trees per processor is represented by VIA's TreeMark rating system.
In addition, VIA promotes the use of such alternative energy sources as solar power, so power plants wouldn't need to burn as much fossil fuels, reducing the amount of energy used. Wetlands also provide a great service in sequestering some of the carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere. Although they make up only 4 to 6 percent of the Earth's landmass, wetlands are capable of absorbing 20 to 25 percent of the atmospheric carbon dioxide. VIA is working closely with organizations responsible for preserving wetlands and other natural habitats, and others who support extensive recycling programs for ICT equipment. The amount paid to these organizations will be represented by a proportion of the carbon-free product’s price.
Carbon-emissions control has been a key issue for many companies who have expressed a firm commitment to sustainability. Dell is a good example of a company with a green image, known for its free worldwide product-recycling program. Dell’s Plant a Tree for Me project allows customers to offset their carbon emissions by paying an extra $2 to $4, depending on the product purchased. AMD, a global microprocessor manufacturer, is also working toward reducing energy consumption in its products, cutting back on hazardous waste and reducing its eco-impact. The company’s use of silicon-on-insulator (SOI) technology in its manufacturing, and strained silicon capping films on transistors (known as “dual stress liner” technology), have contributed to reduced power consumption in its products.

Solar Computing

Solar powered computing

Amid the international race toward alternative-energy sources, VIA is setting its eyes on the sun, and the company's Solar Computing initiative is a significant part of its green-computing projects. For that purpose, VIA partnered with Motech Industries, one of the largest producers of solar cells worldwide. Solar cells fit VIA's power-efficient silicon, platform, and system technologies and enable the company to develop fully solar-powered devices that are nonpolluting, silent, and highly reliable. Solar cells require very little maintenance throughout their lifetime, and once initial installation costs are covered, they provide energy at virtually no cost. Worldwide production of solar cells has increased rapidly over the last few years; and as more governments begin to recognize the benefits of solar power, and the development of photovoltaic technologies goes on, costs are expected to continue to decline. As part of VIA's “pc-1” initiative, the company established the first-ever solar-powered cyber community center in the South Pacific, powered entirely by solar technology.

Lead-Free and RoHS computing

In February 2003, the European Union adopted the Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive (RoHS). The legislation restricts the use of six hazardous materials in the manufacture of various types of electronic and electrical equipment. The directive is closely linked with the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE), which sets collection, recycling, and recovery targets for electrical goods and is part of a legislative initiative that aims to reduce the huge amounts of toxic e-waste. Driven by these directives, VIA implemented a set of internal regulations in order to develop products that are compliant with these accepted policies, including the use of nonhazardous materials in its production of chipsets, processors, and companion chips. In 2001, they focused on lead-free manufacturing, introducing the Enhanced Ball Grid Array (EBGA) package for power efficient VIA processors and the Heat Sink Ball Grid Array (HSBGA) package for their chipsets. In traditional manufacturing processes, lead is used to attach the silicon core to the inside of the package and to facilitate integration onto the motherboard through tiny solder balls on the underside of the package. VIA's lead-free manufacturing technologies do not require a lead bead, and the solder balls now consist of a tin, silver, and copper composite. 
However, not everyone is satisfied with this new objective. Howard Johnson of the online EDN magazine says that the move toward lead-free devices is not only unhelpful but actually worse for the environment. “The additional tin mining required to produce high-purity tin alloys, plus the mining of other precious metals required to alloy with tin in substitution for lead, is a poor trade for the use of existing lead, much of which comes from recycled products,” Johnson writes. He also believes that lead-free assembly is less reliable than lead-based assembly, partially due to the increased growth of tin whiskers — small, hair-like metallic growths that naturally emerge from the surface of solid tin. On lead-free tin surfaces, these whiskers can grow to a length sufficient to short an electronic circuit to another, leading to product failure.

Energy-efficient computing

A central goal of VIA’s green-computing initiative is the development of energy-efficient platforms for low-power, small-form-factor (SFF) computing devices. In 2005, the company introduced the VIA C7-M and VIA C7 processors that have a maximum power consumption of 20W at 2.0GHz and an average power consumption of 1W. These energy-efficient processors produce over four times less carbon during their operation and can be efficiently embedded in solar-powered devices.
VIA isn’t the only company to address environmental concerns: Intel, the world's largest semiconductor maker, revealed eco-friendly products at a recent conference in London. The company uses virtualization software, a technique that enables Intel to combine several physical systems into a virtual machine that runs on a single, powerful base system, thus significantly reducing power consumption. Earlier this year, Intel joined Google, Microsoft, and other companies in the launch of the Climate Savers Computing Initiative that commits businesses to meet the Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star guidelines for energy-efficient devices.
Kevin Fisher, Intel’s EU standards director, says that while the company is dedicated to its green-computing plans, it is important to not blame the IT industry alone for carbon emissions worldwide. He argues that the industry also helps in saving huge amounts of power due to the Internet, enabling, for example, online shopping and billing.

Reducing Waste 2

Learn why using green packing material is a must for an eco-friendly household and green business. Also, learn ways that you can pack items in your home or at work for safe and durable shipping while remaining a friend to the environment!

What Are Green Packing Materials?

Imagine the scenario. You have to ship out a couple packages today. You realize that you must add yet another errand to your already elongated list: pick up a box and packing materials. But wait, what about the boxes that have been sitting in the basement for years, and what about that pile of old newspapers ready for recycling? Bingo! These are perfect for to use as a green packing alternative!
Green packing supplies are materials that can be reused for packing, or are made from sustainable materials (i.e. bamboo). The idea is to not add any more waste to a landfill and be able to reuse items for packing over and over. For example, old newspapers, old cardboard boxes and old bubble wrap can all be saved and used again. There are sustainable materials made just for this purpose; for instance, biodegradable plastic bags and bamboo packaging.

How to Reuse Standard Packaging Materials

The eco-friendly ways to ship or pack for moving are quite numerous. Many people don't realize the green packing material, green packing alternative choices they have in their homes or at their offices. For example, what usually happens to all of those printer paper boxes? Most likely, they are broken down and thrown away. Yet, instead of wasting money on purchasing new ones, a company can simply reuse the boxes lying around.

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Thus, recycling old packing materials is a great way to save money and excellent time-saver. In regard to a business, you will show your customers that you care about the environment. If you're worried about the package's appearance, simply write a personalized note on recycled paper and explain that this box is being reused for environmental purposes and please do the same. It may cause an eco-conscious chain reaction and give your business's reputation a boost.
Here are some ways to use recycled packaged materials:

• Often times recycling cardboard boxes for shipping or moving is an afterthought. Instead they are thrown away or put out for curbside recycling. If there is too much writing on the box or you can't remove the tape properly, simply turn the box inside out and voila! There's a new box for shipping or moving, and you didn't have to pay a dime.

• It is the same with old newspapers. They make wonderful padding, especially for packing glass and other fragile items.

• Use clothes. We all have a few pairs of old sweatpants or shirts we wear around the house and still want to keep. If so, when moving or shipping to yourself (I wouldn't ship a pair of grungy sweatpants to your in-laws), wrap glassware, cups or other delicate items in clothes.

• Pack in towels (again, mostly if it involves yourself). Towels make a great soft materials to protect all kinds of things. Use bath towels, face cloths to shield small objects and even plush kitchen towels.

• Bubble wrap can be used time and time again. This is a great way to maintain a green household. Most people throw away bubble wrap after one use. It takes forever for it to break down in a landfill. To reduce waste and have a ready stash of eco-friendly packing material, store your bubble wrap in a safe place with other packaging materials and reuse over and over.

• The same goes for packing peanuts. Reduce, reuse and recycle them always!

• Use the correct size box for the item. In other words, don't ship a small item in a huge box. It is a waste of resources and packing materials.

• You know those canvas bags you use for your groceries? They are great makeshift "boxes" for moving houses or offices, especially for non-breakable items and little extras that you forgot to pack. Throw in a stapler, notepads, a few books or some scarves or hats.

Eco-Friendly Packaging Materials and Ways to Use Them

Many people are getting into the green packaging alternative, including corporations. For example, Environmental Leader reports that the Dell Corporation now ships some of their computers in bamboo packaging; in fact, "Dell says bamboo is preferable . . . because it grows fast, at up to 24 inches a day, and is strong enough to protect equipment during transit."
Here are some ideas:

• As mentioned at top of this section, bamboo makes an excellent shipping choice. Bamboo is so durable that even floors are now made of this fast-growing wood. Bamboo packaging can be as simple as a case or box. It is recommended to use this method for moving or shipping to yourself because finding bamboo packaging can be time-consuming and costly. However, once you buy bamboo packaging, the cost will be offset because you can use it forever! Or if shipping a present, include the bamboo package as a gift.

• Use extra-strong, plastic biodegradable bags to move less fragile items. Thrown in clothes, towels, blankets, pillows and stuffed animals. A friend to Mother Earth, these bags won't wreak havoc on a landfill and you can reuse them again and again. You can buy them at your local supermarket or even pharmacy.

• Use biodegradable packing peanuts. Yes, they are a product on the market and are a wonderful alternative to the environmentally-disastrous Styrofoam peanuts. You have a few options of reusing them for future use, composting them or dissolving them in water - it works like magic!

• Compostable food containers are now available. Made from corn, they are durable enough to hold hot and cold foods. This is great for everyday use as well as when moving because it's a green way to package food. You can find them on Amazon.

• If you are moving, think ahead when scheduling a moving truck company. Ask if they have hybrid moving vehicles, which will also save you on gas. When shipping items, use a green shipping company that delivers with hybrid vehicles.

In conclusion, when you go to ship or move, ask yourself, "how can I use eco-friendly packaging materials?" Also, look around the house or office to see if you have old packing materials on hand to reuse. You can save the planet, one cardboard box at a time.

Reducing Waste

Green IT 2.0 - Computers Saving Natural Resources

When it comes to green buildings or facilities, computers can play a role in reducing energy consumption. Computer controls for HVAC and other facility energy consumption systems can be monitored and managed for better efficiency.If the buildings' HVAC systems are not up to date, investment needs to be made to utilize centralized building environment control software, but it still pays to monitor.

Technology can also be used in various ways to reduce printing supplies and cost, employee travel and student travel. Course management systems such as Blackboard or Moodle, whether used for remote online learning or not, can save printing and supplies with electronic handling of assignments and course material. Videoconferencing and and centralized computer and security management systems can save travel time and gas. Streaming video, internet tours or live videoconferencing capabilities can supplement or replace field trips.

The use of digital text books, while not specifically saving the school paper, does reduce publishers' paper and ink consumption, as well as reducing strain on students' backs.

What have you done with computers to reduce your carbon footprint?Share your story.

Tips for Getting Started

• Select printers or multifunction products that offer two-sided printing to reduce paper and energy usage.

•   Investigate videoconferencing as alternatives to district travel expense and time.

•    Consider converting parent and staff paper forms, notices and communication to electronic website and email technologies.

•    Consider centralized networked computer management software and practices to reduce support personnel travel.

•    Virtual field trips allow students to "go" anywhere without using buses.

•    Put student registration online - save travel

The Future of Green Computing

The increase in computing over the years has a direct impact on environmental issues and a primary concern of future green technology is reducing the negative impact of computing on the environment.

Legislative Foundations of Contemporary Green Technology Advances

The major fillip to the contemporary advancements in green technology is two directives of the European Union:

1. The 2003 Restriction on Hazardous Substances (RoHS) directive that restricts the use of many hazardous materials in electronics manufacturing.
2. The 2007 Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of Chemicals law (REACH) that bans some hazardous chemicals and mandates permission from the European Commission to use other toxic chemicals.

These directives make it difficult for PC manufacturers to continue using toxic chemicals such as bominated flame retardants (BFRs), cadmium, selenium, lead, and mercury in the manufacture of computer and peripherals, forcing them to seek green alternatives.
The electronic industry has still not witnessed the full impact of RoHS and REACH as research is still ongoing for alternatives to all toxic substances. The future, however, is sure to witness the emergence and widespread use of eco-friendly and energy efficient computers completely free of all harmful toxic elements.

 

The Move Towards Eco Friendly Components in Computers

Several PC manufacturers already use the more sustainable and less toxic recycled plastics and bio-plastics in their tower and monitor casings. HP uses a biodegradable corn-based plastic case in its printers. Other companies use wood and bamboo wood-encased desktops in computer towers, monitors, amd mouse controls.
While most manufacturers have eliminated CRT monitors that emit toxic radiation, the replacement LCD screens are not completely free of toxic materials. As the more energy efficient and toxic-free OLED technology becomes advanced and cost effective, OLED monitors could replace LCD screens as the industry standard. e-ink and IMOD are two other monitor-related technological breakthroughs that have the potential to have a significant impact in future green technology.
Sustainable packaging solutions presently being used, appear not to be a top priority for most companies. HP has however taken the lead to pack its printers in recycled plastics and recycled content paperboard, and ink and toner cartridges in reusable air cushioning rather than molded end caps.
With the move toward eco-friendly components in computers gaining both legislative support and popular appeal, the use of eco-friendly sustainable components will become the norm rather than the exception in future.

Developments in Energy Efficiency

The future green technology holds big advancements in shaping energy efficient computers.
The new Energy Star 4.0 specifications include the 80 PLUS standards that encourage manufacturers to deploy power supplies that convert at least 80 percent of the electricity from the wall outlet to actual computing power.
Intel’s Core 2 Duo processor heralds a new era in green computing. This processor draws power only for the parts of the chip actually in use. Marvell’s processor chip uses power factor correction (PFC) to determine the amount of power any given application requires and uses this information to optimize power usage for maximum efficiency.
Such power-saving technologies are poised to become the norm in the future, and further advancements will bring forth more breakthroughs.
The development of nanotechnology also translates to greater energy efficiency. The future nanocomputer chip would be three or four levels of magnitude smaller in size and considerably faster than the ones currently available.
Another revolutionary idea that could find breakthrough in the future is harnessing the power needed for the computer to operate from keystrokes, mouse movements, and the light from the monitor.

Carbon Free Computing

The 1997 Kyoto Protocol for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change mandates reduction of carbon dioxide emissions to counter global warming.
VIA aims to offer the world's first carbon free computers. Such “carbon free” computers emit greenhouse gasses, but the manufacturers offset such “carbon footprint” or the amount of greenhouse gas emitted by the computer during its lifetime through many ways such as planting trees.
The move toward carbon free computing may also take the shape of the development of solar energy cells. VIA's “pc-1” initiative aims to not just power the computer entirely through solar cells, but also use solar energy exclusively in its manufacturing process. Toward this end, it has launched the worlds first ever solar-powered cyber community center in the South Pacific, powered entirely by solar technology.
The thrust toward carbon free computing also takes the shape of developing green power sources with zero carbon emissions. Recent developments suggest the possibility of incorporating renewable energy technologies into structures in creative and unexpected ways.

• Sybarithe’s Dice House, a 9 x 9 meter cube that sits on an octagonal plinth is a successful prototype of a carbon free unit. A large thermoplastic umbrella on the garden roof shades and insulates the house and collects solar energy.
• Kennedy and Voilich Architecture's Soft House harvests energy through solar-energy-collecting textiles hung in the home like curtains. These thin-film photovoltaic textiles generate nearly 16,000 watt-hours of electricity a day.
• A house museum in Ulricehamn Sweden proposed a revolutionary concept of the using the body heat of visitors and the equipment located inside the building to supply the building’s heat. Solar cells on the roof provide part of the energy to run electrical equipment and heat water.

Advancements in Recycling Technology

While recycling of e-waste has already started in a big way, the future green technology is poised to herald further developments in recycling for a sustainable future. Some of the future works could include:

1. Desktop computer manufacturers reusing or recycle every single part of old computers, leaving zero waste
2. Networking several old computers into one processing unit, accessible by several smaller devices.

Green computing is a booming industry as the world increasingly focuses on sustainable initiatives. All the major companies of the world have embraced some form of green computing technology and look for ways to increase their involvement in the green computing initiative.

Green Computing for Adults

article about green computing

The Ministry of Information and Communication Technology is drafting a “green” ICT policy document, which will promote the concept and act as a roadmap to sustain present green ICT initiatives. It will also devise and implement strategies in for green ICT and e-waste management.

ICT Minister Tassarajen Pillay Chedumbrum spoke about the initiative at a workshop to mark World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD), the theme of which was “Green Information and Communication technologies”.
The green ICT concept, or “green computing”, relates to practices in designing, manufacturing and disposing of computers, servers and associated subsystems such as monitors, printers, and communications, storage and networking systems in an efficient and effective manner with residual or zero impact on environment.
It also aims to achieve economic viability while improving the performance of systems and promoting social and ethical responsibility.
Mr Pillay Chedumbrum highlighted the vital importance of encouraging ICT projects, systems and applications that are energy-efficient and eco-friendly.
He also announced that the National Computer Board, in collaboration with the Mauritius Research Council and the University of Technology, Mauritius, will undertake a survey of CO2 emissions as a result of ICT usage by companies in Mauritius.
The study will enable the implementation of guidelines and the establishment of a protocol to regulate ICT operations. The NCB will set up a committee to define green ICT parameters which have to be taken into consideration in new ICT projects.
It is high time, the minister said, for Mauritius to encourage the purchase, use and setting up of IT equipment and servers that are in line with environmental standards to prevent any negative impact of ICT on the environment. He also stressed the importance of ICT to make cities eco-friendly and economically viable.
ICT can make a significant difference in enhancing the life of people through innovative methods such as intelligent infrastructure and help to efficiently and effectively manage road networks and renewable energy, the minister added.
The Chairman of the NCB, Mr S. Ramgoolam, said the government was already promoting green ICT. Projects include the future construction of a green data centre to host ICT business centres in Flic-en- Flac, e-government initiatives that reduce paperwork and the need for citizens to travel to use government services, the expected introduction of the Work-from- Home concept and promotion of eco-friendly practices and standards in procurement of hardware and software.
The NCB has issued a brochure on green ICT guidelines for households to encourage people to embrace simple everyday green computing practices, improve energy management, increase energy-efficiency, and reduce e-waste.

Explaining Green Computing

video above show us about the green computing. we hope that it will help the readers know better about the green computing. enjoy! :)

Green Computing for Kids

Everyone is trying to be more environmentally conscious these days, and while the best efforts of adults are great, teaching kids how to reduce their carbon footprint instills life-long environmentally friendly habits before adulthood.

It seems that every time you turn around, you hear more and more about green living and carbon footprints. But what is a carbon footprint? A carbon footprint is a measurement of all the greenhouse gas emissions caused by a company, product, or person. Reducing your carbon footprint means you are willing to take steps to reduce the amount of impact you have on the environment. And it isn't just adults who can reduce their negative impact on nature, kids can reduce their carbon footprint as well. By teaching your kids how to reduce waste and conserve energy and resources, you can teach them environmentally friendly habits that will last well into adulthood.

Pack Waste-Free or Limited-Waste Lunches

Pack a better, smarter lunch by using as many reusable items as possible. Instead of using a brown paper bag, try using either an insulated lunch box or a bento box set to pack your child's lunch in. If you don't want to send the good silverware into an elementary school never to be seen again, go out and buy a set of reusable plastic forks, spoons, and knives. This way, if your child accidentally loses a piece, they're easily replaced. Encourage the use of reusable containers, rather than foil and plastic bags. There are thousands of silicon and hard plastic options available in every shape, size, and color, and they are fairly inexpensive. In addition to being waste-free, your child won't have to worry about a squashed sandwich or broken chips. And instead of those drink pouches or boxes, pack an insulated thermos with your child's favorite juice.

Start an In-School Recycling Program

Ask your child to talk to a teacher about starting an in-school recycling program. Students can collect cans, plastic cutlery, and plastic bottles from their lunches and have them recycled at a local recycling plant. This will teach the children in school they can be environmentally responsible by simply sorting their recyclables and their trash into different bins. Not to mention, most recycling plants offer money back when you bring in recyclables, so the school can use the money to fund improvements.

Conserve Electricity in the Home

Encourage your child to conserve electric. Remind them to turn off computers, video game consoles, and TV's when they are finished using them. When your child is done playing in a room, do they often leave the light on? Remind them that they are wasting electric andto turn off the lights when they're not using them. If it is sunny outside, teach your child that opening the blinds and the curtains to let in natural light eliminates the need for lamps and lights in the day time. If your child needs a night light, consider getting a nightlight with a sensor that turns off in the day time or while the lights are on. Or even better, think about getting a solar night light that you can leave on the windowsill. It will be perfectly charged and ready to go every night at bedtime.

Conserve Water

Remind your child to use less water. Every time you take a hot shower, most houses have to provide hot water from a large hot water tank. The more water you use during a shower means that the hot water tank must heat up more water after you are finished. This is an excessive use of energy. Keep showers short, ten to fifteen minutes long a the absolute most. If your child has a hard time knowing when their time is up, give them a wind-up egg timer and set it to ten minutes. When they hear the ding, they will be reminded to finish up their shower. On hot summer days, instead of letting the kids play with the hose or run through the sprinklers, invest in a temporary pool, such as a kiddy-pool or a family-sized inflatable pool. Filling it up once and using it the whole summer is far more environmentally friendly than letting your kids pull out the sprinklers and hoses any time they get a little too warm.

Bike, Walk, or Carpool whenever possible

If the weather is nice, encourage a kid to walk or ride a bike (or skateboard, or rollerblade) short distances, rather than asking a parent for a ride. It's a great form of exercise as well as a great way to reduce car-produced pollutants. Don't allow your teenagers to take the car specifically to cruise around town, and encourage your children and their friends to carpool whenever possible. Offer to chip in for gas money whenever they do car pool as a form of positive reinforcement.

With encouragement and positive reinforcement, you can teach your children how to leave a smaller carbon footprint and adapt an environmentally friendly lifestyle. Remember to always practice what you preach, because children often mimic the behaviors of their parents. Get your whole family involved in living green living!

Resources:

What Do You Do To Support Green Computing?

What is Green Computing?

The phrase "green computing" may conjure up some humorous images if you're not familiar with the term. Normally, we think of gas guzzling cars, factories, pesticides, and such when considering environmental concerns. So what does the term "green" signify in the context of everyday computing?
In a world where computers are everywhere, and environmental concerns are growing by the day, we need to consider how we can build, use and dispose of computers in a manner that's conducive to the health of the environment. That includes reducing the use of lead and other hazardous materials in manufacturing, being careful about energy consumption and paper waste by computer users, and concern for salvage or recycling of old computers. Millions of computers are dumped into landfills each year. That equates to a lot of lead, cadmium, mercury and brominated flame retardants, which will contaminate both water and air.
You may not be in the business of manufacturing computers, but as a user there are some steps you can take to reduce waste and energy consumption.

• Use LCD monitors instead of CRT monitors, which consume a lot more electricity. LCD monitors uses three times less when active, and ten times less energy when in sleep mode.
• Use laptops instead of desktop computers, also cuts down on energy usage. The Everex StepNote NC1501 is touted as the world's most energy efficient notebook computer, using only 12W peak power. By comparison, a desktop model uses 200-400 watts.
• If a laptop is not feasible, look for the Energy Star label when purchasing a computer. New US government regulations make this more important than it's been for the past fifteen years.
• Disable your screen saver. Burn-in is not an issue with modern monitors, and screen savers can prevent your monitor and computer from going into idle/sleep mode.
• Enable the power management features on your computer, to turn off components such as the monitor, fans and hard drive when idle. On Windows, go to Control Panel / Power Options. On OS X, go to System Preferences / Energy Saver.
• Switch off the monitor, printer, scanner and other peripherals when not in use.

Perhaps you've never considered the potential of such small steps, but the global impact can be large if computers users begin to adopt these simple steps. Of course, there are some tradeoffs... LCD monitors and laptops are more expensive than CRT monitors and desktop computers currently. Energy savings do offset some of that extra cost, especially over the course of several years. And if consumers begin a trend towards buying greener computers, economy of scale should result in manufacturing prices trending lower as well.

how do a green computing ?

Follow the suggestions in this article to "go green" and help the environment while using a computer and computer accessories

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Print on both sides of your paper to avoid wasting it, particularly if you are merely printing things for your own reference and not to give to someone else. Try not to print documents when it's not necessary.
2. purchased recycled printer papper.
3. Recycle your printer cartridges by mailing them to the manufacturer, using the envelope that came in the box. You can also take them to home-office-supply stores like Staples or OfficeMax. Most stores offer some type of credit or reward. Whatever you do, don't throw the cartridges away.
4. Turn off your computer, printer and other accessories when they're not in use, to conserve energy. You might see a small savings on your electric bill, too.
5. Recycle your old tech equipment when upgrading to new items. Again, do not throw the old equipment away and clutter up a dump with it.
6. Purchase new equipment that is environmentally sensitive. Many technology companies are creating products that consume less energy.
7. Donate equipment that you've outgrown (but is still in good shape) to nonprofit organizations in your community.
8. Plant a tree to offset CO2 emissions from the equipment you just purchased. Some organizations like Dell offer the option "Plant a Tree for Me" when you purchase their equipment online. Take advantage of it if you do not have the ambition to do the planting yourself.

The Advantages of Green Computing For Businesses and Individuals

Green computing is a rising trend that looks to establish itself as the preferred IT philosophy -- not because techies are tree-huggers, but because green solutions are affecting their bottom lines. Many businesses today are asking the questions: "What is green computing?" and "Why is green computing so important to society?''

What is Green Computing?
Today, the term green computing embodies the entire life cycle of technologies, including research, manufacturing, use, and disposal. Green IT takes a much more holistic approach than it once did, especially as companies are brainstorming solutions to cut costs and increase revenue.

Why is Green Computing Important?
Green computing benefits the environment. 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. Put simply, saving energy and resources saves money.

The advantages to green computing are realized on both large and small scales. Green technologies are available for an entire organization or for a single employee's workstation. Unfortunately, many companies and business owners are stalled by the initially larger investment in green technology, and fail to realize the long-term benefits and cost savings. As such, let's examine adjustments that can be made regarding green computing and IT support, big or small.

System-Wide Green Computing
When investigating green alternatives for your entire organization, consider technologies like cloud computing. Basically, cloud computing eliminates the need for hardware like servers. Also known as visualization, cloud computing replaces hardware with "virtual" servers or servers in "the cloud." Essentially, cloud computing allows companies to reduce their need for big, bulky, energy-consuming servers by relocating them on the Internet. Cloud computing may also be used in areas like networking, data storage, software applications, and operating systems, again, potentially reducing the need for hardware. As a result, businesses stand to save a lot of time, money, and resources on maintenance and support by switching to cloud computing set-ups.

Individual Green Computing
There are many other green computing techniques at the personal computer level. For instance, power management can be an easy and effective means of saving green while conserving energy. While many operating systems come with power-saving settings, there are also a variety of products that monitor and adjust energy levels to increase performance and reduce wasted energy. For instance, some surge protectors can sense when a master component (like a computer) is turned off, and respond by cutting off power to any peripheral machines, such as like printers and scanners.

System-Wide and Individual Green Computing
Finally, green computing initiatives can reap savings in both big and small ways. Technologies that save paper, like email, can have a huge impact on costs as well as the environment. As companies and employees develop methods and habits of conservation, simple practices like emailing memos or printing in smaller fonts can bring instant results. Additionally, policies like telecommuting or teleconferences pose additional benefits by reducing the amount of carbon dioxide produced by travel.

Green computing is quickly emerging as the most effective means of utilizing technology. No matter whether your organization's needs are big or small, green IT can reduce costs, increase productivity, and even do something good for the environment.

EASY WAY TO GREEN YOUR COMPUTER

Not everyone can afford to install solar panels or get a new Prius this Earth Day, but there is one place you can go green without spending an arm and a leg or radically changing your lifestyle: your computer. Chances are you spend the majority of your day sitting in front of the keyboard, and a few small changes can go a long way toward reducing its negative impact on the environment. As an added bonus, doing you part for the environment will save you money, too. This Earth Day, we've rounded up a few simple ways you can go green with your computer.

Shutdown Your Computer Without Losing the Perks of an Always-On PC

my-green-pc.pngObviously, computers require electricity to run, so shutting down, sleeping, or hibernating your computer when you're not using it conserves energy. Every modern operating system has its own settings for conserving power, so the first thing you should do—if you haven't already—is open the power settings of your computer and set them for optimal energy use. Set your computer to put your monitor to sleep, spin down your hard drives, and put your computer to sleep when you're not using it. Even better, since your computer uses less power when hibernating than when sleeping, set up your computer to hibernate rather than just go to sleep.

when sleeping, set up your computer to hibernate rather than just go to sleep. One of the biggest turn-offs (no pun intended) about shutting down or sleeping your computer is that you miss out on some of the finer things your computer provides even when you're away. For example, if you're downloading a large file, you may want the download to continue even when you're away. Likewise, we've covered tons of ways to remotely access your computer, all of which no longer work if your computer's turned off. Luckily you can continue using your computer during these times but still conserve power the rest of the time.

For example, Windows users should check out previously mentioned WinOFF, which shuts down, restarts, and hibernates your computer (among other things) after a certain amount of time, at a specific time, or when your CPU goes idle so that your computer automatically shuts off at times you don't need it.

If a download is what you're waiting for, many peer-to-peer clients, like the popular BitTorrent client uTorrent, can shutdown your computer when a download completes so you can get your file and save energy, too.
Between WinOFF and built-in shutdown features common to many apps, we've taken care of the the download problem—but what about when you want to access your computer remotely? If it's shut down, you can't very well get to it, can you? Actually, you can, assuming you set up Wake-on-LAN on your computer. Once Wake-on-LAN's enabled, you can turn your computer on over the internet from anywhere—so there's no reason not to shut down your computer when you leave the house.
Finally, if you're on a Mac laptop, check out previously mentioned SmartSleep to enhance your power-saving options.

Save Paper when Printing

 When it comes to the environment, one of the first places most offices can improve is the giant pile of discarded paper by the network printer. Aside from obvious things you can do on your own—like printing duplex, printing to PDF, previewing before printing, and not printing hundreds of copies of an email forward to plaster around the office—there are a few other tools you can use to minimize wasting paper and ink when printing. To save ink and paper when you're printing from your browser, use previously mentioned Firefox extension Aardvark to tweak the layout of a page and remove elements—like ads and images—that you don't need on the printed page.

 When you're not printing from the browser, Windows users can save tons on ink and paper with previously mentioned GreenPrint, a freeware application that automatically identifies and removes unnecessary pages or space from your printouts before they head to the printer.
If you're regularly sending documents back and forth to other people or businesses, you can also save a few trees and save a little time in the process with a couple of office hacks. For example, rather than going through the age-old print, sign, and fax dance handed down through the generations by our forefathers, try creating a scanned signature and then sending scanned PDFs rather than faxes. It's quicker and it saves on resources and costs.

Turn Off Peripherals to Kill the Vampires

Now that you've put good energy practices into use on your PC, it's time to move onto the power-hungry peripherals you've got plugged into it. Whenever possible, you want to turn off any peripheral when you're not using it—like your printer or monitor. Likewise, you should be aware of any gear in your computing setup that draws standby power (a.k.a., vampire power) even when you've turned off the device in question. Vampires commonly stand out as large, unsightly AC adapters.

While you could diligently unplug your wall warts or keep them plugged into a power strip that you switch off when they're not in use, you can go even further and automate the process with gadgets like the Energy Saving Smart Strip (original post) and the Power Minder (original post), both of which monitor your PC's power state and automatically shut down other peripherals when you turn off your computer.

 It's one thing to know your computer sucks down a lot of energy every month, but actual power usage numbers drives the point home. Windows can install previously mentioned LocalCooling, an tool that both helps you tweak your Windows power saving settings and visualize the amount of power your computer consumes. Some users reported inaccurate measures with the app when we first posted about it, but the well-intentioned LocalCooling team continues in their efforts to improve the application and help you save energy and visualize the impact of your energy-saving.

If LocalCooling's not giving you accurate results or you want to get a more definitive look at your PC's power consumption, regardless of your operating system, this Coding Horror post demonstrates in detail how to determine and lower the cost of leaving your PC running (original post).

E-Cycling

E-cycling is the practice of reusing, or distributing for reuse, electronic equipment and components rather than discarding them at the end of their life cycle. According to Gartner Group research, over four million computers will be replaced, worldwide, between 2004 and 2006. Discarded electronics and electronic components (e-waste) are creating a serious problem because of toxic elements involved in their manufacture.

In the vast majority of cases, discarded computers and other electronic devices, such as cell phones, are functional and could be passed on to another individual or organization. Often, even non-functioning devices can be refurbished and resold or donated. Organizations such as StRUT (Students Recycling Used Technology), the National Cristina Foundation, and the Resource Area for Teachers (RAFT) collect and refurbish donated computer equipment for redistribution to schools and charities around the world.

e waste

what is E-waste ?

E-waste is any refuse created by discarded electronic devices and components as well as substances involved in their manufacture or use. The disposal of electronics is a growing problem because electronic equipment frequently contains hazardous substances. In a personal computer, for example, there may be lead in the cathode ray tube (CRT) and soldering compound, mercury in switches and housing, and cobalt in steel components, among other equally toxic substances. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), more than four million tons of e-waste go to U.S. landfills each year.
Around the world, a number of initiatives have arisen to address the issue of e-waste, by promoting the reuse of electronic devices (e-cycling) and mandating that safer alternatives to hazardous substances be used in their manufacture whenever possible. In Europe, legislation has been drafted to deal with the problem, including the Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive and the Basel Convention. In the United States, initiatives have mostly come from the private sector, such as eBay's Rethink project.

Introduction

what is Green Computing ?

Green computing is the environmentally responsible use of computers and related resources. Such practices include the implementation of energy-efficient central processing units (CPUs), servers and peripherals as well as reduced resource consumption and proper disposal of electronic waste (e-waste)


Government regulation, however well-intentioned, is only part of an overall green computing philosophy. The work habits of computer users and businesses can be modified to minimize adverse impact on the global environment. Here are some steps that can be taken:

• Power-down the CPU and all peripherals during extended periods of inactivity.
• Try to do computer-related tasks during contiguous, intensive blocks of time, leaving hardware off at other times.
• Power-up and power-down energy-intensive peripherals such as laser printers according to need.
• Use liquid-crystal-display (LCD) monitors rather than cathode-ray-tube (CRT) monitors.
• Use notebook computers rather than desktop computers whenever possible.
• Use the power-management features to turn off hard drives and displays after several minutes of inactivity.
• Minimize the use of paper and properly recycle waste paper.
• Dispose of e-waste according to federal, state and local regulations.
• Employ alternative energy sources for computing workstations, servers, networks and data centers.

Acknowledgement

Bismillahirahmanirahim.  First of all, we want to thanks Allah SWT because give us opportunities to complete this group assignment.  Thank you because give us a healthy body.

Secondly, thanks you to my CSC 134 lecturer, Puan Nor Azleen Azib because have taught us patiently.  She also was very kind.  She shared all the experience with us.  she also give us some ideas and advice during this assignment.

Puan Nor Azleen Azib

A lot of thanks and love to our parents because they have always give us support and love.  Our parents always give some advice when we down.  Thank you because provide us some money to complete this assignment.

Last but not least, to my entire friend.  Thank you because give and shared some ideas during this time.  I hope we will success together with flying colors and make our parents happy.  Thank you all!   

p/s : PLEASE SUPPORT US TO SAVE THE EARTH!

Introduction

What is the function of this blog? This blog is our group assignment for the subject Computer and Information Processing (CSC 134). For this assignment, we are required to complete a blog about the 'Green Computing'. Since no one on Green Computing in Malaysia, our lecturer is Puan Nor Azleen asked us to do blog about this topic. This blog is owned by five girls.

SITI MAS AYU BINTI SAPARI

NURUL FATHASSHAH BINTI JOHAR

NURFATIN NADIA BINTI SUIB

NURFASEHAH BINTI ABD RAHMAN

AFIQAH ASYAKIRIN BINTI ALI

We hope we will complete is assignment task successfully.  We will work harder to make this blog. 

p/s : Our blog is under construction.