As computer usage becomes more prevalent with each passing day, embracing green computing is critical for protecting the environment and preserving our world. Properly implemented, green computing can benefit not just the environment, but computer owners and users as well.
Defining “Green Computing”
What is green computing? Also known as sustainable computing, green information technology, sustainable IT, or eco-friendly computing, it is a field of practices and technologies that are meant to make computers more efficient and environmentally sustainable. Green computing is often included under a company’s environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives, which focus on adopting sustainable and ethical business practices.
Green computing is more than just a feel-good measure or PR stunt; it is a necessary measure in a world that is increasingly affected by human industry and climate change. With global temperatures rising by 1.29 degrees Celsius (or 2 degrees Fahrenheit) compared to the 20th-century average, we are increasingly at risk of facing melting ice caps, rising sea levels, and extreme weather events. Meeting this threat requires change at every level possible, including the computers we use.
Challenges for Green Computing
Implementing green computing means overcoming the three primary sources of pollution associated with computers: their manufacture, the amount of electricity they consume, and their disposal afterwards.
Manufacturing Waste
Manufacturing electronic devices can come at an extremely high environmental cost. Most of this cost comes during resource extraction (such as gathering the rare metals that computers need to function) and the manufacturing process itself, which produces various hazardous chemicals and gases, including methylene chloride, toluene, and hydrochloric acid. These byproducts can cause severe environmental damage, both locally and globally, if they are not properly captured and contained.
Power Consumption
Throughout a computer’s lifespan, its most significant environmental impact will be how much electricity it consumes. As we use more and more computers in more and more roles, this consumption will only increase, especially as artificial intelligence (AI) plays a greater role in the economy. AI relies heavily on massive data centers to power its processing, and these data centers can consume 10 to 50 times more energy per floor space when compared to a typical office building. This means that investing in energy-efficient designs is a necessity.
Safe Disposal
The final great source of waste from computers is when they are not properly recycled and disposed of, becoming “e-waste” that winds up in landfills around the world. In 2022 alone, a record 62 million tons of e-waste were produced, representing an 82% increase compared to 2010. This is due to more devices being used than ever, shorter product life cycles, and limited repair options available for consumer-grade electronics.
Measures and Features for Green Computing
Now that we understand what green computing is, how do we achieve it? Embracing green computing means more than just including a particular design feature or gimmick in computers. It requires serious change in the design and manufacturing process and in how devices are disposed of once their service life ends.
Green Manufacturing Processes
The manufacturing process must be carefully monitored and controlled to prevent the spread of toxic chemicals and gases. Green manufacturing in general can include several practices, such as getting power from renewable sources like wind and solar, using lighting and heating solutions that are more efficient, and purchasing parts locally to minimize transportation. For manufacturing computers specifically, steps must be taken to capture, store, and neutralize the various toxic byproducts that are created during the production process.
Longer Lifespans
Tech manufacturers are often disincentivized from making products with long lifecycles. This is partially due to the constant advances in technology quickly making older models obsolete, but also because a computer or smartphone that breaks after just a few years can be replaced by a newer, more expensive model.
However, more scrupulous manufacturers will work to maximize computer lifespans as much as possible. This often takes the form of durability-enhancing features, such as fanless cooling, solid-state drives, and high ingress protection ratings to protect the computer’s components.
Energy Efficiency
It shouldn’t be a surprise that computers are major energy hogs, pushing government regulators and manufacturers to seek more efficient designs. Parameters such as ENERGY STAR and the Electronics Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) are used to judge products based on:
- How much energy they consume compared to other devices in their category
- What materials were used to construct them
- The packaging products are stored and shipped in
Products that meet the standards set by these parameters are given the highest ratings possible, marking them as a superior choice. Industrial panel PCs will implement power-saving features such as fanless cooling systems as part of their effort to earn these ratings.
Easy Recycling
After a computer has served its lifespan and needs to be retired, it must be appropriately disposed of and recycled. Many of the components and materials in a computer are either too valuable to rot in a landfill or too toxic to allow them to escape into the environment. Dedicated e-waste recycling facilities dismantle, separate, and repurpose these materials, reducing the overall consumption of limited resources.
Benefits of Green Computing
While green computing may seem like a hassle to implement, it actually brings several benefits for the companies that implement its practices.
Reduced Waste and Pollution
Most importantly, embracing green computing principles reduces the amount of waste generated, from the first assembly to the final recycling. Lower factory emissions, less fuel spent on transportation, less power consumed during operations, and less scrap winding up in a landfill all help to protect our environment and ensure future generations won’t pay for our mistakes.
Lower Energy Costs
Obviously, green computing solutions are more energy-efficient than other devices. Consuming less power results in a lower electricity bill, which can be a significant expense in some sectors. For example, the average hospital's monthly electricity bill is $77,973, for a yearly cost of over $900,000! Energy-efficient medical computers, lighting, and refrigeration systems can drastically reduce this cost, saving the hospital money and allowing it to invest those savings into its staff and services.
Extended Hardware Lifecycles
Nothing is more frustrating than buying a new device only for it to break down and fail after just a year. Green computing encourages long device lifespans, which comes with its own host of benefits for both owners and end-users. Along with being more ecologically friendly, longer-lasting devices lower the total cost of ownership, ensure operational consistency, better support legacy hardware, and ensure you meet regulatory approval.
Better Compliance With Government Regulations
From power consumption limits to ESG initiatives, embracing green computing principles is increasingly necessary for businesses. By doing so, companies can avoid fines or even civil charges and be more likely to be chosen for subsidies and contracts with the local, state, or even federal government.
Eco-Friendly Computers from Cybernet Manufacturing
What is green computing? It is a set of design principles that are more important than ever, considering the increasing reliance on electronics and the need to dispose of them safely. By embracing these principles, companies can save both the environment and their bottom line.
Looking to implement green computing in your business or healthcare facility? Contact the team at Cybernet Manufacturing. We would be happy to explore how our devices are engineered to maximize longevity and minimize their environmental impact. Our qualifications as an original equipment manufacturer also mean that we can customize our products to your exact needs, further reducing their ecological footprint.