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Description
This sheet will introduce you to the idea of green computing, also known as green ICT. What is the environmental impact of the internet? Does sending an email affect the planet? Is digital technology produced in an envrionmentally conscious way?
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Definitions
Green computing, also called green information and communications technology (ICT) or ICT sustainability, comprises various ideas regarding the limiting of the impact of ICT technology on the environment. Green computing therefore promotes the idea of sustainable development. It also addresses questions regarding the social and economic influence of ICT.
Green computing advocates for the idea of reducing greenhouse gases emitted by the ICT industry and more generally. Those who lobby for green computing would also aim to convince political decision-makers to favour policy encouraging the transition towards more environmentally friendly technology.
In other words, green computing aims to minimise the negative impact of ICT’s environmental impact through the designated production of environmentally sustainable ICT. This could be done by reducing the use of dangerous materials, optimising energy efficiency during product lifecycles and demanding that obsolete products by biodegradable.
Environmental impact of ICT
ICT impacts the environment via production and transport processes as well as in our homes, as it consumes large amounts of energy. There is also the fact that we tend to replace our technology frequently and there is no way to recycle effectively. This is made worse by the fact that the manufacturers incorporate planned obsolescence strategies in their design processes which deliberately reduces a product’s lifespan, pushing us to buy new devices more than we would otherwise need to, which contributes to climate change.
Each step of an object’s lifecycle generates carbon emissions, from primary element extraction primary until disposal.
It has been estimated that up to 270 kilograms of carbon emissions are emitted through the production of a laptop computer.
Internet and invisible pollution
With each email sent, every online search and video posted on YouTube for example, energy is consumed which produces carbon emissions. This is due to high energy data centres.
Some tips for becoming a more environmentally conscious digital consumer
- Strictly limit the purchasing of new devices
- Repair broken material
- Buy second hand or reconditioned tech
- Minimise your use of cloud storage
- Clear out your inbox regularly
- Don’t use email when not connected to Wi-Fi
Going further
See this video or this video.