Wednesday, July 15, 2009
What is Green Campus Computing?
Green Campus Computing is a practice of using computer resources efficiently. The growing use of computers on campus has caused a dramatic increase in energy consumption. Most personal desktop computers are not being used the majority of the time they are running and many personal computers nationwide are needlessly left on continuously. Every time we leave computers or lights on we waste electricity. Burning fossil fuels generates most of our electricity and it also emits pollutants, sulfur, and carbon dioxide into the air. These emissions can cause respiratory disease, smog, acid rain and global climate change.
Here are some ways to reduced energy consumption:
When you're not using your computer, you can save energy by putting it to "sleep." When your computer is in sleep, it's turned on but in a low power mode. It takes less time for a computer to wake up from sleep than it does for the computer to start up after being turned off. You can also choose to put the computer to sleep automatically when your computer has been inactive for a specified amount of time. You can also set only the display to sleep. If your computer is in the middle of a task that you want to let finish while you are away you should set only the display to sleep.
To implement this idea on my school, University of Southeastern Philppines, it would be much better if we are responsible enough to help in conserving energy. All the administrative staff as well as students must be aware of the environmental issues that computers bring unto us since we are the primary users of those devices. We have to be vigilant of the effects of those issues since we are responsible on it. The idea of turning off the computers when not in used is a big help. Avoid using screen savers since images that appear on monitor within 5 minutes means wasting of energy. We must understand the concepts of green campus computing, its advantages and effects in many aspects of life. If we students as well as the staff in our school is properly oriented with the purpose of green campus computing, then it would be very easy for us to get involved in conserving energy and protecting the environment. Cooperation is badly needed to achieve the goal of saving the environment. Likewise, it would be a lot better if the faculty will imposed strict implementation inside our computer laboratories so that students will definitely follow. It is also good if the school administration will have further study in using the technology efficient and effectively to fit the current computing lifestyle of our university. Moreover, we students must follow those simple implementation so that we can help in conserving and saving energy at the same time in protecting our environment. The benefit of having a good environment is not only for our own good but also to those in our future generation.
References:
http://ecenter.colorado.edu/energy/projects/green_computing.html
http://greencampus.winserve.org/greencampus/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogsection&id=7&Itemid=39
http://www2.iath.virginia.edu/mgk3k/enwr/ccs.html