SustainableComputing

Saving Energy and Saving the Computer

admin — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 00:00:00 +0000

In today’s society you can’t walk more than two feet without interfacing with or encountering a computer in some form. Computers help us do our jobs, do our shopping, find great movies, listen to our favorite songs, keep control of our finances and even schedule our lives – computers are very much inextricably woven into our daily lives, but they can use a lot of power. If you are an energy conscious person who favors green energy or renewable energy, then you probably get your power through places like http://www.shopelectricityratestexas.com/switch_electric_companies.html and you know this problem all too well.

However, you don’t need to worry. Most computers and processors these days come equipped with energy saving features that drastically cut back on consumption. Sometimes activating this feature is as easy as the press of button and the computer goes into hibernation mode. Unfortunately, some people, who just have to have access to their computers 24/7, will refrain from shutting down or putting their computer in hibernation and therein lies the problem. Not only does this use up power when you aren’t using the computer but it puts undo stress and wear on the unit. For those curious about saving power and using eco-friendly practices on the computer, it’s really quite simple – give your computer a rest every now and again. Don’t worry. It will still be there the next time you need it.

Applying Eco-Friendly Principles To Computers Can Create New Jobs

admin — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0000

In today’s world, IT managers are taking their Corporate Social Responsibility quite seriously. They want their data centers and server farms to have less of an impact on the community where they reside. For this reason, they are using eco friendly parts and materials in their equipment. Things like chassis and frames are now made using recyclable materials. The parts require less electricity to operate therefore cooling needs decrease. These types of friendly business practices foster the need for novel ideas, which spurs new inventions and more jobs. In other words, being eco-friendly today is not a matter of Just Energy savings. It is also a matter of contributing to the community as a whole. Today’s IT managers know that we are all in the game together.

Applying eco-friendly principles to computers saves them money but also protects the environment while actually creating new jobs. When more folks are working, there is a greater demand for their services, which means they can further focus going green. They are killing more then a single bird with once stone and this is what makes America great. Why not look at your IT data center and see how new technologies can help to reduce cooling costs while creating jobs.

Sleep vs. Hibernate: Increasing Computer Efficiency

admin — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 15:18:27 +0000

When you close your computer, whether for the day or just for a few minutes, you probably aren’t consciously considering which mode will use the least energy and serve you most effectively. Most of us simply fall into a pattern of clicking the same button every time, regardless of which is actually the most efficient choice. Understanding the difference in sleep and hibernate modes can help you decide which is the appropriate course of action each time you finish using your computer.A computer placed in sleep or standby mode is utilizing a type of power-saving method that will reduce the power used by your monitor and turn off the hard drive, but it stores whatever you were using or working on in random access memory (RAM). True to its name, when your computer is placed in this power-saving mode it can easily be restarted or woken up. However, your un-saved work is at risk because if the battery power dies or there is a power outage with a desktop computer, RAM fails and you can lose your work. For this reason, sleep should be used when you are only going to be away from your computer for a very short time period. If you use the sleep mode more than a few hours you can drain the battery, using unnecessary amounts of electricity.Putting your computer into hibernate mode will store your data onto the hard drive and your system is then basically shut down. Because your information is stored on the hard drive and not RAM, you don’t run the risk of losing any files if power fails. Bringing your computer out of hibernate is faster than restarting it completely, but slower than bringing it out of sleep. Therefore, this power-saving method should be used when you don’t plan on using your computer again for more than several hours.

Top 5 Ways to Avoid Cyber Attacks

admin — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 14:21:24 +0000

In many ways technology has made our lives much simpler. It can save time, help avoid mess, and has much greater capabilities than we ever could have dreamed of. With all of these advantages, there is obviously a downfall. Viruses and identity theft are not new issues, but recently, individuals and companies are at a much greater risk as a result of the unanticipated increase in internet and technology use. Take a look at our top 5 ways to protect yourself from such an attack so that you won’t be the next victim.1) Anti-virus software: This is a crucial element of online protection and there are many companies that offer extensive and trusted products to protect your computer from a virus. A Firewall, which hides your system from hackers, is also one of the best ways to avoid a cyber attack. However, by wary of unknown, online products offering anti-virus software. These can actually be viruses posing as such software, and when downloaded will infect your computer.2) Keep personal information off your system: Many people make the mistake of storing passwords, bank account numbers, and passwords on their computer. This can be extremely dangerous, because in the event of someone hacking into your system, they would have all the information necessary for identity theft.3) Spam Filters: Most email providers offer some sort of spam filtering software and you should always utilize this feature. Viruses often enter a system through spam and email attachments. Additionally, you should never download anything from the Internet if you aren’t sure of the source as this is another way viruses find their way into your system.4) Vary Passwords: It’s easy to use the same password for all your accounts but this can prove to be very dangerous. If one account is hacked there is a potential for many of your other accounts to be compromised. Use difficult and varied passwords and keep a handwritten list to reference each account.5) Only Use Trusted Online Shopping: So many of our purchases are now made online, but it’s very important to be sure of the source before you ever provide credit card and billing information, as this is ideal information for a hacker.Eliminating internet and computer use from your life is impossible, so be sure to practice safe computing habits to protect yourself from cyber attacks.

Sustainable Computing is Catching On

admin — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 21:06:28 +0000

Slowly but surely, more and more companies are realizing the cost and energy benefits of going green. Take William Hill, a CIO from Dayton, Ohio for example. By replacing his old set up of 80 networked terminals consisting of varying assortments of PCs with thin clients (a computer/computer program that depends heavily on another computer which acts as a server to fulfill its traditional roles) for 60 of his staff and PCs for the rest, he was able to obtain optimal use at minimal cost. Initially, the reason behind Tills switch to thin clients was their lower cost. Once the new system was in effect, he noticed a corresponding drop in how much energy the organization was usingenough to save the city between 60,000 and 90,000 annually.While many companies are switching to eco-friendly business technologies for monetary reasons, others are making a change strictly for the environment. As Andrew Fanara, team leader at the EPA’s Energy Star Program puts it, “as competitive entities, we have to do more with less. So why not use less electricity as well?” It seems the sustainable computing trend is catching on. At a conference on opportunities for energy savings co-sponsored by the Energy Protection Agency, over 200 reps attended. These attendees included large companies such as AT&T, Target, and Visa.If the benefits are so obvious, why aren’t all businesses switching to sustainable computing? Unfortunately, greener computing entails more than new productsit requires changes in IT (information technology) policies and user behavior plus increased cooperation across departments. While IT practitioners are capable of helping companies cope with these changes, they have other day-to-day demands that take precedence. It’s important to recognize these minor obstacles standing in the way of sustainable computing and make every effort to get around them. Otherwise, companies will continue to use up valuable energy that could easily be reduced.

Protect Your System Against Security Breaches

admin — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 20:59:12 +0000

As corporations become increasingly dependent on internet technology, the risk of cyber attack continues to grow. There has been a recent push by both government and research institutions to create more secure internet software. Cyber attacks come in many forms, but they are almost always crippling. Another industry trend that is increasing the risk of security breaches is cloud computing. This is a process where information is stored and accessed from one central server and can be used by any number of authorized people. By having so much information stored in what is sometimes an indeterminate location, the risk can increase. While this may seem like a foreign concept, chances are you are “cloud computing” more than you think. Social networks such as Facebook and Twitter, which allow you to store information and files such as pictures, are forms of cloud computing. Some see this as an even greater risk because often information on these sites is personal. How to go about combating the security issues associated with internet technology and software depends on whether you are functioning at an individual level or with your business. Most companies utilize some sort of Firewall system that makes them invisible to potential hackers but many individual computer users are not aware how important this product is.Over the last few decades the number of internet security breaches has decreased dramatically. While the case of cyber attacks was rare during the ’80s, there are now thousands of these occurrences each year. A recent push to tighten security is leading the government and research institutions to spend millions of dollars in developing more secure products. This is such a crucial investment because of the amount of time and money that is lost every year as a result of these attacks.

Many Companies Are Shifting to Eco-Friendly IT

admin — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 20:55:18 +0000

The continued increase in demand for software, computing devices, and internet technology in the developed world along with the rapid industrialization of developing nations is forcing us to take a look at more sustainable technologies. Not only is there a concern that we are depleting some of the finite resources used in these technologies, but their effect on our environment could be devastating. There are a number of ways that IT departments are looking to increase efficiency in order to create a more sustainable technological industry.One of the major areas of change in the technology industry is the type of monitor used. Traditional CRT monitors are rapidly being replaced with LCD screens. Known for their precise technology, CRT screens are still necessary in some industries such as graphic design. However, many people have switched to LCDs, which are lighter weight and don’t consume as much energy as CRTs, nor emit the heat produced by CRTs.Another way for a company to increase environmental efficiency as well as lower electricity costs is by installing power management software. This is a system that can monitor how long computers stay on when they aren’t being used and turn them off after a certain period of time. Power management software is also used to make sure no devices are left on overnight, wasting unnecessary electricity. Saving money while reducing your carbon footprint is a hard-to-beat proposition.Altering the type of computers used in your workplace is another easy way to save energy and costs. Thin clients are a new type of computer that allows you to access documents or files from the server through the use of virtualization. Compared to traditional desktops, thin clients have a much longer life span, which reduces long-term costs. Virtualization technology of thin clients significantly reduces energy consumption. There are other advantages of these devices that make it a popular technology. Because information is accessed from the server, you don’t have the concern of saving or losing data if the thin client is disconnected.

Look for an Energy Efficient Product When You Buy Your Next Computer

admin — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 20:48:35 +0000

The presence of the government’s Energy Star label is growing as a focus on energy efficient products emerges. Now that our home and work life revolve around technology, it’s important to find more sustainable products. If you’re looking to buy a new PC there are several computer companies that are leading the way in green technology. The new Mac mini from Apple is the self- proclaimed “world’s most energy-efficient desktop computer.” This product received the Energy Star label from the EPA. Some of the specifications required for computers to receive the Energy Star label include amount of energy consumption, efficient power supplies and the use of sleep modes during periods of inactivity.The Mac mini goes beyond the standards set for an Energy Star product and uses additional technology to save power depending on what functions are being used during activity. This computer also uses less power during idle mode than most other desktops. Another eco-friendly feature of this computer is the removal of many of the toxic products typically found in computers such as brominated flame retardants (BFRs) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Using such products often becomes a problem in the end-life of the product when it must be disposed of. Apple has added to the environmental efficiency of this computer by using recycled material and fewer packaging materials. The smaller size of the computer allows for smaller packaging and less materials to be disposed of in the end. As a benefit to all U.S. Apple users, the company uses a recycling program to collect old products to prevent improper and dangerous disposal.The Mac mini is only one of many new products that have a greater emphasis placed on efficiency and sustainability. When it’s time to purchase your new computer, look for the Energy Star label as well as other product specifications that will inform you of how “green” the product really is.

How to Fight the Growing Problem of e-Waste

www.sustainablecomputing.org — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 17:27:24 +0000

You can’t walk into an office building, no matter what size, and not find people working at computers. The days of paper files and hand written receipts are over, and with that have come an immeasurable number of computers and other technological devices such as printers, scanners, and fax machines. In some ways, this shift is a more environmentally friendly trend because there is a reduced demand for paper products. However, the problem comes when it’s time to replace the old computers and cell phones. Because of technological advancements, most electronic devices become obsolete within a matter of a few years and must be disposed of and replaced. Currently, the practice of disposing of such products can be very detrimental to the environment.Two of the most common ways of disposing electronic equipment is by dumping it in a landfill or incinerating the equipment. When placed in a landfill, which is often done in developing countries, hazardous and toxic chemicals used to make these products can seep into the ground and eventually end up in the water table. When incinerated, these devices release elements such as lead and mercury into the air. Exposure to these toxins can lead to extreme health problems for the surrounding populations.There are a number of ways to combat the problem of e-Waste and many companies are recognizing the need to do their part to solve this problem. A recent recycling push is encouraging companies and individuals to not simply toss their old products in the trash but recycle them so the old parts can be reused instead of dumped in a landfill to contaminate a community. Another way to reduce the e-Waste problem is by sending older equipment to developing nations to use these products. There is still a risk with this effort because eventually those products will be dumped as well, but prolonging the life of any electronic device reduces how much and how fast we are throwing these products in the trash.