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Green Computing: The Environmental Impact of Desktop Computing

Green Computing: The Environmental Impact of Desktop Computing Catherine Steeves Associate Chief Librarian, ITS Gillian Maurice Sustainability Coordinator University of Guelph Presentation to OLA – February 1, 2007 What is Green Computing ?

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Green Computing: The Environmental Impact of Desktop Computing

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  1. Green Computing: The Environmental Impact of Desktop Computing Catherine Steeves Associate Chief Librarian, ITS Gillian Maurice Sustainability Coordinator University of Guelph Presentation to OLA – February 1, 2007

  2. What is Green Computing? • The positive (or least negative) relationship between the physical computer and its impact to the environments in which it moves through from cradle to grave

  3. Green Computing – Why? • Growing public environmental awareness • Increasing impacts on environmental and human health • Corporate social responsibility

  4. Cradle to Grave Approach • Full life-cycle analysis, not just the product on our desks • Looks at: • Manufacturing • Use during lifetime • Disposal and reallocation

  5. Manufacturing – Fossil Fuels • Average desktop computer with monitor requires 10 times its weight in chemicals and fossil fuels to produce • 240 kg of fossil fuel for CRT monitor (United Nations University) • 266 kg of fossil fuel for LCD monitor (Williams, 2003)

  6. Manufacturing– Monitors • CRT – lead and zinc leachate mean monitors are hazardous waste (Lee et al., 2004) • Lead: bioavailable in soil - can attack proteins and DNA, as well as interfere with nervous system function (Bechara, 2004; Needleman, 2004) • LCD – 4-12 mg mercury /unit (Williams, 2003) • Liquid crystals – polycyclic or halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons, 588 different compounds • 4% have potential for acute toxicity, but show no mutagenic effects in bacteria tests(Williams, 2003)

  7. Manufacturing – Other Toxins • PBDE – similar structures to PCB and DDT • Bioavailable, environmentally persistent, biomagnifies in blood, fatty and liver tissue (Domingo, 2004) • Extraction impacts – refining of petroleum for energy and plastic, mining and smelting of metals • Solvents in microchip fabrication – hydrochloric acid, hydrofluoric acid, arsenic, benzene and hexavalent chromium(Williams, 2003)

  8. Use – Environmental Impacts • Electricity consumption for desktops and peripherals • 120W CRT+CPU; more for older machines Ontario Ministry of Energy, 2005

  9. Use – Environmental Impacts • Fossil fuel power – Greenhouse gas emissions, mercury atmospheric pollution, SOX and NOX lead to acid rain and smog formation • Nuclear power – difficulties with long term management of radioactive wastes

  10. Disposal – Electronic Waste • Short product life expectancy (2-4 years) • Same toxins in manufacturing process can cause environmental contamination • Human health risks • Lead, barium, chromium, CNS disruptors etc. (Baul, 2002) • Human rights problems – “Exporting harm”

  11. E-waste Impacts in China Photos Courtesy of Basel Action Network

  12. Manufacturing – Good News • Greener technology • PBDE-free plastic • lead-free soldering • fewer toxic solvents • Plastics labelled with recycling codes • Less material used • Independent certification bodies e.g.TCO, Nordic Swan, EU Eco-label

  13. Use – Good News • New technology often more energy efficient • Laptop 15W total • LCD system: 80W total • CRT system: down to 120W from 270W • Independent certification bodies e.g., TCO, Nordic Swan, EU Eco-label • Energy saver features are now standard

  14. Waste – Good News • Recycling • Metal recovery • Semi-precious metal recovery • Stewardship pledge (Basel Action Network)

  15. University of Guelph Campus • 110,000,000 kWh of electricity • 4,700 homes • 9.2 million dollars • 32,800 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year, or over 7,000 cars (in one year)

  16. Breaking Down Electricity • 50% mechanical • 35% lighting • 15% plug-load • Where can we find efficiencies? 15% = $1.38 million, 4,900 GHG, 1200 cars

  17. Finding Efficiencies • Sustainability Office commissioned study to look at environmental impacts of computers on campus • Report released: Environmental Impact of Computer Information Technology in an Institutional Setting: A Case Study at the University of Guelph • President asked the CIO to strike a task force

  18. Green Computing Task Force • Terms of Reference • Identify green computing best practices • Examine computing procurement guidelines • Identify energy conservation strategies and practices • Identify equipment disposal procedures • Recommend a campus awareness program

  19. Task Force Members: • Aiden Abram, Student Representative to ISC • Gillian Maurice, Sustainability Coordinator, Physical Resources • Blair Nonnecke, Associate Professor, Computing and Information Science • Catherine Steeves, Chair, Associate Chief Librarian for Information Technology Services • Dale Stevanus, Manager, Purchasing Services • Jeff Walker, Systems Support Manager, Library

  20. University of GuelphPolicy on Environmental Protection • Acknowledges a responsibility for and a commitment to protection of the environment on a continuous improvement basis • Promotes and supports environmental management policies and environmentally responsible practices at every level and every department • Is committed to minimizing environmental impacts arising from the university’s activitiesUniversity of Guelph - Environmental Health and Safety’sPolicy on Health and Safety 851.01.01

  21. Best Practices – Policy • Northland College Sustainability Mission Statement • Sustainable Development Policy for the Association of Canadian Community Colleges International Institute for Sustainable Development Sustainable Campus Policy Bank

  22. Recommendation – Campus Policy • Although beyond the scope of this task group, it is recommended thatthe University revisit its policies and consider the creation of an institutional environmental mandate to build a strong foundation for green policies, initiatives and program

  23. Current Context – Computer Procurement • Typical computer procurement selection criteria : • functionality and specifications required by the user • commercial aspects that offer best value (best combination of functionality, price, service and other desired criteria) • compatibility with existing equipment and use

  24. Best Practices – Computer Procurement • Trent University’s Environmental Procurement Policy • McMaster University’s Responsible Purchasing Statement/Commitment to Safety and the Environment

  25. Recommendations – Computer Procurement • Purchasing Services develop a green purchasing policy for computers • Companies which manufacture and operate in environmentally sensitive ways • Manufacture to electrical efficiency standards • R&D to improve products’ environmental impact

  26. Best Practice - Disposal • Current UG e-waste disposal program represents a best practice • E-waste is divided into two separate streams, CRT monitors and all other electronic equipment • General e-waste is sent to Production Works where it is dismantled and redistributed to scrap companies and recyclers • CRT monitors sent to an environment friendly Toronto-based company

  27. Recommendations – Disposal Maintain current program, plus: • Obtain suitable space for storage of e-waste and monitors • Develop and implement methodology for tracking tonnage diverted from landfill • Formalize reuse and reallocation procedures and policies

  28. Current Context – Guelph Environmental Awareness • Sustainability at U of G Website • Person to person workgroup presentations • Student to student presentations • Enviro Rep in-residence program • Tips and tools promotional materials • Campus media outlets

  29. Recommendations – Awareness • Campus Awareness Program • Survey to gauge awareness of energy reduction and waste reduction practices and identify barriers to participation • Campaign development offering incentives and long-term behaviour modification strategies • Measure success and publicize success

  30. Best Practices – Energy Conservation • Implementing power management options on machines • Reducing the overall “on” time of the system as a whole • Reducing the overall “on” time of the monitor in particular

  31. Energy Conservation Strategies • Survey current computer power management policies and practices across campus • Coordinate participation of IT personnel in an energy reduction plan • Develop configuration standards, with IT personnel, to reduce energy consumption of computers

  32. Conclusion: From Cradle to Grave • Top 3 priorities for Guelph: • Energy conservation strategy • Campus awareness • Procurement guidelines • What can your library do?

  33. For More Information… • Environmental Impact of Computer Information Technology in an Institutional Setting: A Case Study at the University of Guelph • Report of the Green Computing Task Group Campus Computing and the Environment • Sustainability at U of G • Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility Resources on Computers and the Environment • Environmentally Preferable Purchasing-Electronics US Environmental Protection Agency • Electronics Product Stewardship Canada

  34. Contact us: Gillian Maurice Sustainability Coordinator sustain@pr.uoguelph.ca Catherine Steeves Associate Chief Librarian, ITS csteeves@uoguelph.ca

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