Approaches to Green Computing

Virtualization
Computer virtualization refers to the abstraction of computer resources, such as the
process of running two or more logical computer systems on one set of physical
hardware. The concept originated with the IBM mainframe operating systems of the
1960s, but was commercialized for x86-compatible computers only in the 1990s.
With virtualization, a system administrator could combine several physical systems
into virtual machines on one single, powerful system, thereby unplugging the
original hardware and reducing power and cooling consumption. Several commercial
companies and open-source projects now offer software packages to enable a
transition to virtual computing. Intel Corporation and AMD have also built
proprietary virtualization enhancements to the x86 instruction set into each of their
CPU product lines, in order to facilitate virtualized computing.
Terminal Servers
Terminal servers have also been used in green computing methods. Terminal
Services for Windows and the Aqua Connect Terminal Server for Mac, both deliver
operating systems to end users. Using this method, users terminal in to a central
server. All of the computing is done at the server level but the end user experiences
the operating system. There has been an increase in using terminal services with
thin clients to create virtual labs. Thin clients use up to 1/8 the amount of energy of
a normal workstation. Using thin clients with a terminal server delivers the Windows
or Mac operating system to end users while also decreasing energy costs and
consumption.
Power Management
The Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI), an open industry standard,
allows an operating system to directly control the power saving aspects of its
underlying hardware. This allows a system to automatically turn off components
such as monitors and hard drives after set periods of inactivity. In addition, a system
may hibernate, where most components (including the CPU and the system RAM)
are turned off. ACPI is a successor to an earlier Intel-Microsoft standard called
Advanced Power Management, which allows a computer's BIOS to control power
management functions.
Some programs allow the user to manually adjust the voltages supplied to the CPU,
which reduces both the amount of heat produced and electricity consumed. This
process is called undervolting. Some CPUs can automatically undervolt the
processor depending on the workload; this technology is called "SpeedStep" on Intel
processors, "PowerNow!"/"Cool'n'Quiet" on AMD chips, LongHaul on VIA CPUs, and
LongRun with Transmeta processors.

Power Supply
Desktop computer power supplies (PSUs) are generally 7075% efficient, dissipating
the remaining energy as heat. An industry initiative called 80 PLUS certifies PSUs
that are at least 80% efficient; typically these models are drop-in replacements for
older, less efficient PSUs of the same form factor. As of July 20, 2007, all new Energy
Star 4.0-certified desktop PSUs must be at least 80% efficient.
Storage
Smaller form factor (e.g. 2.5 inch) hard disk drives often consume less power per
gigabyte than physically larger drives. Unlike hard disk drives, solid-state drives
store data in flash memory or DRAM. With no moving parts, power consumption
may be reduced somewhat for low capacity flash based devices. Even at modest
sizes, DRAM based SSDs may use more power than hard disks, (e.g., 4GB i-RAM
uses more power and space than laptop drives). Flash based drives are generally
slower for writing than hard disks.
As hard drive prices have fallen, storage farms have tended to increase in capacity
to make more data available online. This includes archival and backup data that
would formerly have been saved on tape or other offline storage. The increase in
online storage has increased power consumption. Reducing the power consumed by
large storage arrays, while still providing the benefits of online storage, is a subject
of ongoing research.
Video Card
A fast GPU may be the largest power consumer in a computer. Energy efficient
display options include:
No video card - use a shared terminal, shared thin client, or desktop sharing
software if display required.
Use motherboard video output - typically low 3D performance and low power.
Reuse an older video card that uses little power; many do not require heatsinks or
fans. Select a GPU based on average wattage or performance per watt.
Display
LCD monitors typically use a cold-cathode fluorescent bulb to provide light for the
display. Some newer displays use an array of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) in place of
the fluorescent bulb, which reduces the amount of electricity used by the display.
Operating System Issues
Microsoft has been heavily criticized for producing operating systems that, out of
the box, are not energy efficient. Due to Microsoft's dominance of the huge desktop

operating system market this omission may have resulted in more energy waste
than any other initiative by other vendors. Microsoft claim to have improved this in
Vista. This claim is disputed in the community. This problem has been compounded
because Windows versions before Vista did not allow power management features
to be configured centrally by a system administrator. This has meant that most
organizations have been unable to improve this situation.
Again, Microsoft Windows Vista has improved this by adding basic central power
management configuration. The basic support offered has been unpopular with
system administrators who want to change policy to meet changing user
requirements or schedules. Several software products have been developed to fill
this gap.
Materials Recycling
Computer systems that have outlived their particular function can be repurposed, or
donated to various charities and non-profit organizations. However, many charities
have recently imposed minimum system requirements for donated equipment.
Additionally, parts from outdated systems may be salvaged and recycled through
certain retail outlets and municipal or private recycling centers.Recycling computing
equipment can keep harmful materials such as lead, mercury, and chromium out of
landfills, but often computers gathered through recycling drives are shipped to
developing countries where environmental standards are less strict than in North
America and Europe. The Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition estimates that 80% of the
post-consumer e-waste collected for recycling is shipped abroad to countries such
as China, India, and Pakistan.
Computing supplies, such as printer cartridges, paper, and batteries may be
recycled as well.
Telecommuting
Teleconferencing and telepresence technologies are often implemented in green
computing initiatives. The advantages are many; increased worker satisfaction,
reduction of greenhouse gas emissions related to travel, and increased profit
margins as a result of lower overhead costs for office space, heat, lighting, etc. The
savings are significant; the average annual energy consumption for U.S. office
buildings is over 23 kilowatt hours per square foot, with heat, air conditioning and
lighting accounting for 70% of all energy consumed. Other related initiatives, such
as hotelling, reduce the square footage per employee as workers reserve space only
when they need it. Many types of jobs -- sales, consulting, and field service -integrate well with this technique.
Voice over IP (VoIP) reduces the telephony wiring infrastructure by sharing the
existing Ethernet copper. VoIP and phone extension mobility also made hot desking
and more practical.