The question of eco-friendly design has become increasingly pressing as the threat of climate change continues to rise. Global temperatures have risen 1.1 degrees Celsius (or 2 degrees Fahrenheit) over the last century, leading to melting ice caps, rising sea levels, and extreme weather events that are more common and more deadly than ever.
This challenge must be faced in every field and every industry, and computing is no exception. Manufacturers are increasingly expected to integrate green computing features into their designs and provide products that help their customers find more eco-friendly solutions. Today, we'll explore green computing, its necessity, and the new developing factors affecting it, such as the rise of generative AI.
Why Do We Need Green Computing?
The issues raised at the start of this article should be more than enough reason to justify embracing green computing. Climate change is undeniably real and affects us all in ways we may not even realize. Meeting it requires action on every front possible, from individual consumer choices to broader market trends.
In addition to serving the greater good, many state and national governments are implementing economic incentives to encourage green computing, ranging from tax breaks for using renewable energy sources to imposing fees on excessive CO2 emissions. By implementing green computing strategies, companies can take advantage of these incentives and avoid penalties for polluting.
Even outside of climate change, computer manufacturers must be conscious of the waste by-products created during production. Preventing toxic gasses or chemicals from spreading into the wider environment is critical for protecting the planet's health and the people living on it.
What does Green Computing Mean?
"Green computing," also referred to as green information technology, sustainable IT, sustainable computing, and green technology, is the use of computers and related devices in an energy-efficient and eco-friendly manner. Green computing often falls under a company's environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives, which focus on adopting sustainable and ethical business practices.
Green computing comes in three forms: design, manufacturing, and disposal.
Energy Efficient Design
Computers can be major energy hogs, so governments and manufacturers constantly look for ways to reduce power consumption. Parameters like ENERGY STAR and the Electronics Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) judge products on criteria such as how much energy they consume compared to other devices in their category, what materials were used to build them, and even the packaging the products are shipped in. Products that save electricity and implement design choices that minimize waste are highlighted with the highest rating possible. Industrial panel PCs will implement power-saving features like fanless cooling systems as part of their effort to earn these ratings.
Green Manufacturing
Manufacturing computers can come at a high ecological cost if the process isn't properly monitored and controlled. Multiple regulations exist to prevent the spread of toxic chemicals and gasses or to cap the spread of CO2, a leading contributor to the greenhouse effect that causes climate change.
Green manufacturing processes can include getting power from renewable sources, implementing low-energy lighting and heating in facilities, and purchasing parts locally to minimize transportation. Working with a local or near-shore original equipment manufacturer is an excellent way to achieve the latter steps.
Eco-Friendly Disposal
Computers and electronics of all kinds contain materials that are either too valuable to go to waste or too hazardous to release into the environment. Recycling and disposing of e-waste in a safe and controlled manner is critical, both for protecting the environment and reusing materials.
The Generative AI Question
A conversation about green computing would not be complete without mentioning generative AI. As the current hot topic dominating the tech field's discourse, questions about its environmental impact are inevitable. The truth is a mixed bag.
The current reality is that a search driven by generative AI consumes 4 to 5 times as much energy as a conventional web search. ChatGPT alone already uses as much electricity as about 33,000 American homes. If generative AI sees widespread adoption in the industrial world, that number will only increase.
Water is another major concern. The powerful computer hardware used to power massive large language models (LLMs) requires liquid cooling and enormous amounts of it. When Google and Microsoft implemented their Bard and Bing LLMs, they both saw spikes in their water usage of 20% and 34%, respectively. At current trends, cooling the machines powering AI may require as much water as half the United Kingdom's usage.
However, AI could also help reduce water and electricity usage by minimizing waste and optimizing buildings, utilities infrastructure, and products. For example, while a generative AI web search requires more power, it can still save energy overall if it accomplishes its task quicker than a conventional search. If implementing AI leads to a net reduction in water and electricity usage, it could help avert shortages in both of these critical resources.
Embrace Green Computing with Cybernet Manufacturing
By integrating green computing into their hardware choices and daily business decisions, businesses not only save money but also help protect the world we live in. There are no alternatives or backups for Earth.
If your company is looking for green computing solutions, contact the team at Cybernet Manufacturing. We'd be happy to explain how our rugged industrial tablets and computers meet environmental regulation requirements like ENERGY STAR, RoHS, and more.
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