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.