This is a topic which still interests me. Various people have pointed me to new articles both here in Australia and overseas.
This thread started with How Green is your DER? nearly two months ago, and then continued a month ago with In Search of a Green DER.
My concern is still with the sustainability of our increasing use of computers in our educational institutions. Their inevitable growth in numbers will likely be mirrored in households across Australia where the “family computer” is being complemented with one or more according to cheapness and demand. For example my latest purchase was only $A599, and I have been able to connect it up to my existing wireless network. So now there are 3 computers in the house.
The term “green ICT paradox” comes from the title of a National Computing Centre (NCC) - US- a report called The green IT paradox based on responses from 120 organisations in a survey conducted in June 2008. While 60% of the organisations either had a green IT policy or were developing one, less than 10% thought it was a top priority. Cost saving was seen as the main reason for going green, rather than any consideration of reducing the company’s carbon footprint. This report was sponsored by EDS and concludes with a case study of what EDS is doing about environmental sustainability.They are targeting a 25% reduction in their carbon pollution by the end of 2010.
The Education Technology Show produces podcasts for education professionals who work with technology. Ed Tech Show Episode 5 an interview with Mark Winter of Computers Off Australia about the effects of the Digital Education Revolution and green computing strategies for schools. The interview is the final one in this particular podcast and it is possible to push the slider on the podcast across the Mark Winter interview. Winter is concerned that we will see increased consumption in the home as well as at school. Mark Winter has also been interviewed on the ABC, talking about our poor energy saving habits in the home, particularly with our personal PCs, where we rarely turn our monitors off. The Computers Off website contains an energy calculator, some amusing videos, and a three minute whiteboard video outlining the benefits of Lowering Computer Power Consumption.
Finally, earlier this month Tom Worthington reflected on the UK Government’s strategy for reducing the environmental impact of computer systems with an ambitious target to be carbon neutral by 2012. See the list of ICT carbon reduction strategies included in his post.
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