Now a day’s living standard of people is changing at a faster pace and to cope up with the environment, everyone has to meet that pace. Similar is the case with the Green computing. “Greening" your computing equipment is a low-risk way for your business to not only help the environment but also reduce costs. Green computing can lead to serious cost savings over time. Reductions in energy costs from servers, cooling, and lighting are generating serious savings for many corporations. As energy demands in the world go up, energy supply is declining or flattening. An energy efficient system helps ensure healthy power. Hence, this study is throwing light in the area of green computing. The study is done considering IT-users.
1. Introduction : Green computing or green IT, refers to environmentally sustainable computing. “Making a conscious decision to go green in the workplace, not only improves ones bottom line, but also reduces ones carbon footprint. It’s a win-win no matter how one looks at it” Reducing energy usage, which also reduces carbon dioxide emissions and energy bill, is the most effective thing one can do. The average PC wastes about half the energy provided to it, according to the Climate Savers Computing Initiative, an industry group dedicated to reducing greenhouse-gas emissions. One should encourage employees to shut down their PCs or put them into sleep mode when not working on them. A green computer is one that is built from eco-friendly materials, features low power consumption and Computer Power Management (CPM) capabilities, has fewer and smaller component parts and generates less heat than previous models, and ultimately is responsible for the emission of less CO2 into the atmosphere. A wholly green product will be packaged in recyclable materials and, at the end of its useful life cycle, will be traded in to the manufacturer to another organization that will reuse and/or recycle the equipment, rather than dumping it into a landfill.
Many governmental agencies have continued to implement standards and regulations that encourage green computing. The Energy Star program was revised in October 2006 to include stricter efficiency requirements for computer equipment, along with a tiered ranking system for approved products
• Computer energy is often wasteful leaving the computer on when not in use (CPU and fan consume power, screen savers consume power)
• CPU uses 120 Watts CRT uses 150 Watts 8 hours of usage, 5 days a week = 562 KWatts if the computer is left on all the time without proper power saver modes, this can lead to 1,600 KWatts for a large institution, say a university of 40,000 students and faculty, the power bill for just computers can come to $2 million / year .
• Printing is often wasteful how many of you print out your emails or meeting agendas printing out partial drafts for a “paperless” society, we tend to use more paper today than before computer-prevalence
• Pollution manufacturing techniques Packaging disposal of computers and components
• Toxicity LEAD It is estimated that between 1997 and 2004, 1.2 billion tons of lead was used in computer components The problem: cause damage to the central and peripheral nervous systems, blood system, kidneys, endocrine system and cause negative effects on child brain development lead accumulates in the environment and has toxic effects on plants, animals and microorganisms.
1.1 CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
• In the present changing and competitive world, Green Computing is a discipline that studies, develops and promotes techniques for improving energy efficiency and reducing waste in the full life cycle of computing equipment from initial manufacture, through delivery, use, maintenance, recycling and disposal in an economically realistic way . While it is daunting to consider the ways in which the widespread use of computers is contributing to waste, it is encouraging to recognize that computer science researchers and educators can pursue solutions to reduce this wastefulness.
• In this Research Project, we are going to do the research over the topic:
“A study of awareness of green computing among the IT-users ”
• “Green” has become a popular term for describing things that are good for the environment, generally healthful and, more recently, economically sensible. “Going Green” implies reducing your energy use and pollution footprint. The technology community, specifically computer users, have popularized the term “Green Computing,” which is the reduction of the pollution and energy footprint of computers.
1.2 DEFINIG VARIABLES
Green computing
Green computing is the study and practice of using computing resources efficiently. The primary objective of such a program is to account for the triple bottom line (or "People, Planet, Profit"). The goals are similar to green chemistry namely to reduce the use of hazardous materials; maximize energy efficiency during the product's lifetime; and promote recyclability or biodegradability of defunct products and factory waste. Modern IT systems rely upon a complicated mix of people, networks and hardware; as such, a green computing initiative must be systemic in nature, and address increasingly sophisticated problems.
Environmental awareness
(i) To promote environmental awareness among all sections of the society;
(ii) To spread environment education, especially in the non-formal system among different sections of the society;
(iii) To facilitate development of education/training materials and aids in the formal education sector;
(iv) To promote environment education through existing educational/scientific/research institutions;
(v) To ensure training and manpower development for environment education, awareness and training;
(vi) To encourage non-governmental organizations, mass media and other concerned organizations for promoting awareness about environmental issues among the people at all levels;
(vii) To use different media including films, audio, visual and print,, theatre, drama, advertisements, hoarding, posters, seminars, workshops, competitions, meetings etc. for spreading messages concerning environment and awareness; and
(viii) To mobilize people's participation for preservation and conservation of environment.
2. Objectives
• To measure the level of awareness of green computing.
• To compare green computing awareness amongst various professionals.
• To suggest some strategies for sustainable development.
3. Literature Review
1. Green Computing - New Horizon of Energy Efficiency and E-Waste Minimization
Thrust of computing was initially on faster analysis and speedier calculation and solving of mare complex problems. But in the recent past another focus has got immense importance and that is achievement of energy efficiency, minimization of power consumption of e-equipments. It has also given utmost attention to minimization of e-waste and use of non-toxic materials in preparation of e-equipments. World leaders have also taken move towards this by following some principles. Now it is the time for the end user community to follow some rules of thumb to achieve partly the benefit of “Green Computing”. In India, the implement-ability of principle of “Green Computing” is facing a dilemma due to many socio-economic matters and those are linked to be soughed out to pull India in the mainstream movement of “Green Computing”.
2. Green Computing and Communications (GreenCom2010)
Computing and communication systems play key roles in modern IT infrastructure, affecting every aspect of life, including services related to health, banking, commerce, defense, education and entertainment. It has been viewed that there are tremendously increasing demands for computing, communication and storage systems since last decades. To fulfill such requirements, modern IT infrastructures have been extended and scaled, which brings various “green” related issues, such as energy consumption, heat dissemination, greenhouse emission and resource total cost of ownership.
To make the fully efficient use of computing and communication systems and reduce their environmental and social impact, green computing and communication research has increasingly become a hot topic of interest for the computer research and industry. The study of green computing and communication attempts to alleviate this problem by delivering both high performance and reduced power consumption, effectively maximizing total system efficiency.
3 .The role of IT in the push towards environmental sustainability
Drivers for environmental initiatives are regulatory pressure and cost : Regulation is the primary driver of environmental initiatives, closely followed by cost considerations. PR value is third while genuine concern for the environment ranked fifth out of six criteria.
Staff appears to be ahead of the organization in environmental concerns :Over 60 percent of respondents are ‘passionate’ about the need to deal with environmental issues, but only a third of organizations take environmental issues ‘seriously’. The highest levels of concern are detected in the very smallest and largest companies. It is not the first time that the mid-ground has proven hard to address but they stand to gain just as much as the other organizations.
IT can improve its own environmental performance : Energy is the big talking point at the moment with consolidation and virtualisation driving power saving. The majority of IT departments are not accountable for power usage. If this were changed, it would greatly affect IT decision-making. IT also needs to take a clear look at the lifecycle environmental impact of its purchasing and disposal choices.
IT can help the company with its environmental objectives : Of the six main options offered, the top three ways in which IT can help the company improve its environmental performance all relate to travel. Moving bits instead of atoms can slash travel and accommodation expenses and reduce environmental impact. Home working and teleconferencing are the big winners here. These changes require collaboration between the board, HR and IT.
IT being green is a subset of IT helping the organization get green and stay green
IT has a dual role, both in becoming greener itself and in supporting and enabling the business’s environmental objectives. It is therefore important to think beyond IT’s immediate jurisdiction such as power and cooling to the overall picture, where the use of technology as an enabler of more environmentally friendly practices can have a significantly greater impact..
Nail the obvious tasks and champion the more complex
Measures such as turning things off to save power and making power efficiency a standard selection criterion when buying new equipment are obvious, but ineffective unless they are actually implemented. Other areas, such as improving asset management and working environmental considerations into project assessments and infrastructure modernization initiatives require more planning, funding and stakeholder
4. Research Methodology
4.1 Study : Research is an endeavor to discover answers to intellectual and practical problems through the application of scientific method. Research is the systematic process of collecting and analyzing information (data) in order to increase our understanding of the phenomenon about which we are concerned or interested.
4.2 Tools for Data Collection : This study is based mainly on primary data that can be collected from the field source. The primary data can be collected through filling questionnaires by the IT users. The data is collected from various bibliographical sources such as articles from internet, websites of hospitality industry etc. The findings of the study are an outcome of the researches done by various researchers.
5. Technology : Understanding the ways in which power consumption impacts the “greenness” of any technology, and specifically computing technology, is an essential step toward reducing this consumption and educating others. This section describes the various specific techniques that can be used to reduce power consumption.
5.1 Turn Off Equipment When Not In Use : Powering down equipment is the simplest, most effective and most obvious way to reduce computing power consumption. Computers have become such a standard part of daily life that many computers are left powered on around the clock, and is often done as a convenience to the user. This convenience is costly since the simple act of powering off a computing device will significantly reduce its power consumption, although it is important to note that many devices may still consume a small amount of power or “phantom load.”
5.2 Computer Power Savings Modes
Management of power consumption is a standard, yet often overlooked, feature of most computers and operating systems on the market today. Typically, one changes settings that control the behavior of various software and hardware components, thereby reducing power consumption. The barrier to wider adoption is that many find power savings modes to be inconvenient as there can be a brief delay in exiting a power saving mode back to normal
use. Resistance is understandable, although with careful system configuration and gradual acclimation to a different way of working, this hesitancy can be overcome.
5.2.1 Screen Savers
One of the simplest and most familiar power saving methods is the proper use of screen savers. The typical graphical screen saver originally designed to minimize “burn-in” of computer monitors, actually increases power consumption. Rather than using a 3D graphics screen saver, and with screen burn-in no longer a concern, power use easily can be reduced by disabling screen savers In this way, power consumed by intensive graphics is eliminated, leading to the monitor “falling asleep” after a period of idling, automatically conserving still more power.
5.2.2 Monitor Sleep Mode
Allowing the monitor to fall asleep after idling for some time period is another easily employed method for improving energy efficiency. When a monitor falls asleep or enters a “stand by” mode, it enters a low power consumption state. The monitor screen will be blank, with no light emitting from it. For example, a Dell 20” widescreen LCD uses approximately 55 watts of power when it is on. In sleep mode, the power use drops to around 3 watts, resulting in significant energy savings. Setting the sleep mode is done via an operating system’s power options control panel, with a sleeping monitor able to be woken within a couple of seconds by moving the mouse or typing a key on the keyboard. Monitors should be configured to fall asleep in the classroom, office and at home.
5.2.3 Hard Disk Sleep Mode
A computer can place its hard disk drives in a low power sleep mode when they are idle. Hard disk drives on desktop computers can use 10 watts or more when in use, while notebook computer drives use less but energy savings have the benefit of extending battery charge life. Operating system settings again manage this mode automatically once configured. A hard disk drive that falls asleep is awakened within a couple of seconds by moving the mouse or typing a key on the keyboard. This setting provides a small savings and is minimally intrusive, with more significant savings possible using system standby mode.
5.2.4 System Standby Mode
System standby is one of the most effective power saving features. After a preset idling period, a computer will shutdown most of its components significantly reducing power use. Volatile memory remains active so that whatever the user was working on will still be there when the computer wakes up from standby mode. A desktop computer that uses more than 100 watts idling can use as little as 5 watts when in standby mode, using one twentieth of the electricity it used when idling. Wake up time for system standby mode requires a few seconds, a delay that users may not be accustomed to. Standby mode is much faster than shutting down and later powering on the computer, and it preserves the computer’s state in memory, making it preferable for users seeking a balance between convenience and greenness. The power button of most computers can also be configured to send the computer into standby mode rather than shutting it down, further enabling users to conveniently save power.
5.2.5 Hibernate Mode
The hibernate mode goes one step further than standby mode by completely powering off the computer. Invoking the hibernate mode causes the memory state to be saved onto the hard disk before powering down. When coming out of hibernate mode, the computer restores the memory state, returning the computer to it’s pre-hibernate state. A desktop computer will consume\ approximately 3 watts in hibernate mode vs. 5 watts for standby. A disadvantage of the hibernate mode is that it takes slightly longer to enter and exit hibernate than standby, the result of saving and restoring the memory state to and from the disk.
5.3 Eliminate Phantom Loads
Phantom loads, such as the 3 watts used by the hibernate mode, occur when electrical devices appear to be powered off but continue to consume electricity. Many electrical devices exhibit phantom loads because they do not have a physical switch. That disconnects the electrical connection to an electrical socket. For example, most computers exhibit a phantom load of 1-3 watts due to a constant draw by AC/DC adapters or LAN-friendly wake up functionality, among other causes. Wake up on LAN allows a completely shut off computer to be turned on remotely from a machine on its network, an important capability when administering a network. The computer that is shut off uses a small amount of power to drive sensor circuits that detect a wake up signal received by the network interface. Though seemingly insignificant, phantom loads can cost a surprising amount. The following equation approximates the cost that a user who has 10 electrical devices, each consuming as little as 3 watts when “off,” will incur in one year:
Power year = 10 devices 3 W 24 hours 365 days 1 kW / 1000 W
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263 kWh
At the rate of 9.26 cents, the average price of electricity in the United States per kilowatt hour (kWh) in April 2008, the total cost of phantom loads for this user is about $26 for the year. Of course, electricity rates vary widely, so the cost could be much higher in some areas. The solution to the phantom load problem is to pull the plug from the wall when the electrical device is not in use, with a more convenient alternative being the use of a switchable power strip. More sophisticated power strip devices are available that can automatically power off any devices plugged into the strip when a specific device, such as the computer, is powered off.
5.4 Upgrade with Efficient Components
Upgrading inefficient components inside of a computer can improve a computer’s overall efficiency, although higher cost is sometimes a prohibiting factor, with component upgrades sometimes requiring other prerequisite components to be replaced first. A more cost effective alternative to component upgrades is to deliberately seek the greenest computer available when it comes time for replacement.
5.5 Upgrade to Extend Computer Lifecycle
While upgrading computers to improve their efficiency may not be cost effective, upgrading with the intention to extend their life cycle is more worthwhile. Upgrading the system memory or CPU will improve performance without requiring additional component upgrades. This type of upgrade frequently is less expensive than system replacement, prolongs system life cycle, and reduces the waste issues of discarded computers.
5.6 Purchase Efficient Devices to Begin With
Inevitably, a computer will need replacement. When purchasing a new computer, special attention should be paid to several criteria. First, the computer should be energy efficient, following a compliance standard such as Energy Star, indicating a recognized conformance to low energy use goals. Second, the manufacturer of the new computer should have a recycling program for used computers to reduce waste. Third, the computers themselves should be made up of as few toxic materials as possible. Clearly, exposure to toxic materials can be detrimental to human health and to the environment.
5.7 Supporting Approaches
Powering computers using green electricity generated from sources such as solar, wind, bio-fuels, and others may reduce pollution and greenhouse gases, although improving the efficiency of electrical devices remains more cost effective at present. For every dollar spent improving the efficiency of electricity consuming devices, 3-5 dollars must be spent to obtain the same savings with generating equipment like solar panels. Moving toward a paperless office and classroom is another approach that can benefit computer science researchers and educators, with institutional buy-in and individual reluctance remaining as hurdles. Using electronic handouts, via PDF or HTML for instance, online forms, tests and quizzes, scanning archival copies of documents rather than printing, and printing those documents that must be printed double-sided when possible are techniques that can reduce paper waste and energy use.
6. Major Result
• In the latest results from research of IT-users, slightly over half say they’re not currently using their PCs’ power management capabilities, such as sleep and hibernate modes, to save power when they’re not actively using the systems. Fortunately, nearly all participants who aren’t currently using power management acknowledge that they’d like to change their ways.
• Possibility of error in data collection because many of the respondents may have not given actual answers of the questions.
• Sample size may not adequately represent whole market.
• The results show that an increasing volume of green computing research has been conducted for a diverse range of areas. The papers or articles are classified and results of these are presented, based on a scheme that consists of five main categories: technological issues, Energy conservation strategies and practices, initiatives, e-waste and infrastructure. A comprehensive list of references is presented. This review will provide a rich literature source for anyone interested in green computing research and help simulate further research.
7. Conclusion: So far, consumers haven't cared about ecological impact when buying computers, they've cared only about speed and price. But as Moore's Law marches on and computers commodities, consumers will become pickier about being green. Devices use less and less power while renewable energy gets more and more portable and effective. The greenest computer will not miraculously fall from the sky one day, it’ll be the product of years of improvements.
Refrences
1. Sanghita Roy and Manigrib Bag (World Perspective vis-à-vis Indian Scenario)
Sponsored by IEEE, IEEE CS, IEEE TCSC and ACM Hangzhou, China, October 30–November 1, 2010
2. David Tebbutt, March 2008 in association with Intel, Dell and freedom and dynamics.http://www.viagallery.com/index.php?option=com_flickr4j &Task=sets&Set=72157603205643305
3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_computing
4. http://www.thegreengrid.org
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