JOURNAL OF COMPUTING, VOLUME 4, ISSUE 5, MAY 2012, ISSN 2151-9617 https://sites.google.com/site/journalofcomputing WWW.JOURNALOFCOMPUTING.

ORG

217

Green Computing Endeavor in Higher Educational Institutes a noble initiative towards Sustainable IT Infrastructure
Shalabh Agarwal, Archana Vimal, Saima Ghosh, Asoke Nath
Abstract Computers are one of the fastest growing electrical loads in the Educational and Business world. Each year more and more computers are procured and put to use. But its not just the number of computers that is driving energy consumption upward. The way that we use computers also adds to the increasing energy burden. Research reveals that most personal desktop computers are not being used the majority of the time they are running and many personal computers worldwide are needlessly left on continuously. Increasing awareness of climate change and concern for the environment, has forced a variety of industries including the educational institutes to review their environmental credentials. Colleges and universities throughout the world are now paying more attention to Green Computing as an initiative towards a greener environment and cost savings. Institutions of higher education (IHEs) can decrease their carbon footprints and save costs when they embed energy-saving programs in their IT policy. Many institutions have chosen to include information on their websites about green computing efforts and how to reduce carbon footprints. In addition use of thin-client and virtualization is also being adapted as efforts towards sustainable computing. This article discusses the ways that individuals and institutions can decrease energy use with sensible use of computers and IT infrastructure. Index Terms Green Computing, Energy Efficiency, Thin-client, Virtualization

1 INTRODUCTION
OMPUTER science teachers are uniquely positioned to promote greater awareness of Green Computing, using the academic setting to encourage environmentally conscious use of technology. This paper reports on practical techniques that can engage faculty and students, enabling Green Computing to be integrated into the higher studies in classroom and in research laboratory. Analysis and empirical evaluation of each reported technique is given, comparing the effectiveness of each in terms of energy, environmental and financial cost savings. These results are provided as technological and economic evidence for the benefits of Going Green, and to promote education in Green Computing in the classroom, department and research lab. Due to the rising cost of energy, depletion of natural resources and increasing concern for the environment by the general population, sensitivity to and interest in the issues of Green Computing are high. While the Earth has existed for perhaps 4.5 billion years, in just the past 30 years one-third of the Earths natural resources have been consumed. Clearly, this pace of consumption is not sustainable from a practical perspective, suggesting that

techniques for reducing consumption are needed. Permission to make digital or hard copies of all or part of this work for personal or classroom use is granted without fee provided that copies are not made or distributed for profit or commercial advantage and that copies bear this notice and the full citation on the first page. As population has increased, energy use has also increased. The widespread use of technology, particularly computers, means that computer power consumption is a topic of concern, with increases in computer energy consumption leading to increases in pollution and related side-effects. The negative side-effects of the computing life cycle include pollution in the form of carbon dioxide from power plants and transportation, lead and mercury from manufacturing processes and power plants, and other toxic materials used in the production, use and disposal of computers. Computers that are less efficient use more electricity which leads to increased pollution. The need for Green Computing is thus quite clear, but we need more empirical studies and formalized recommendations. Energy efficiency is currently the easiest and cheapest way to reduce our use of fossil fuels, for both computers and other electrical devices. In the United States, where elec tricity costs are still relatively low compared with many Shalabh Agarwal is a faculty with the Department of Computer Science, St. other countries, alternative sources of electricity such as Xaviers College(Autonomous),Kolkata,India. E-mail: shalabh@sxccal.edu. photovoltaic (solar) and wind turbines are still cost proArchana Vimal is faculty with the Department of Computer Application, hibitive for many. Although these technologies are likely Shri Sikshayatan College, Kolkata, India. to become more affordable, cost is still the primary factor E-mail: archanavimal@hotmail.com inhibiting early adoption. There is a growing consensus Saima Ghosh is associated with Cognizent Technology Solutions Kolkata. that improving energy efficiency will reduce pollution E-mail: saima.ghosh@gmail.com and save money. The matters in question are how to go Asoke Nath is a faculty with the Department of Computer Science, St. Xaviers College(Autonomous),Kolkata,India and also the Executive Direc- about implementing efficiency improvements, how to
tor of the Computer Centre of the College. E-mail: asokejoy@gmail.com.

JOURNAL OF COMPUTING, VOLUME 4, ISSUE 5, MAY 2012, ISSN 2151-9617 https://sites.google.com/site/journalofcomputing WWW.JOURNALOFCOMPUTING.ORG

218

improve these methods and create new methods, and how best to spread this knowledge by engaging computer experts and lay people. According to San Murugesan, the field of green computing is the study and practice of designing, manufacturing, using, and disposing of computers, servers, and associated subsystemssuch as monitors, printers, storage devices, and networking and communications systemsefficiently and effectively with minimal or no impact on the environment." It is about environmentally friendly use of computers and related technologies. Green is used in everyday language to refer to environmentally sustainable activities. Green computing encompasses policies, procedures, and personal computing practices associated with any use of information technology (IT). People employing sustainable or green computing practices strive to minimize green house gases and waste, while increasing the cost effectiveness of IT, such as computers, local area networks and data centres. More directly it means using computers in ways that save the environment, save energy and save money. Efforts to reduce the energy consumption associated with personal computers are often referred to as green computing, which is the practice of using computing resources efficiently and in an environmentally sensitive manner. Green IT refers to all IT solutions that save energy at various levels of use. These include (i) hardware, (ii) software and (iii) services. Green computing is an emerging area of research that emphasizes reduction of the impact of computation on our environment. In the recent past, researchers have found that the Institutes of Higher Education (IHEs) can contribute significantly towards this concept and can adapt to various simple deployments to save cost as well as add to the environment sustainability. The focus is into two distinct areas. One is on the technology of green computing, which includes low-power / energy-efficient hardware, software techniques to reduce power consumption. The other focus area is on the online deployment of various services and training. Technology systems are a valuable tool for education. Information and communications technology (ICT) is central to the content and delivery of education, as well as the physical environment in which education occurs. The environmental benefits of ICT, in carbon abatement and promoting greater overall resource efficiency, are substantial. However, they also need to be held to a green standard that reduces manufacturing, in use and waste impacts. In a globally competitive world of accelerating change, higher education institutions must find ways to harness the powerful currents of technology and environmental sustainability. The two areas which the IHEs can adapt for Green Computing are discussed herewith.

changes settings that control the behavior of various software and hardware components, thereby reducing power consumption. The barrier to wider adoption is that many find power savings modes to be inconvenient as there can be a brief delay in exiting a power saving mode back to normal use. Resistance is understandable, although with careful system configuration and gradual acclimatization to a different way of working, this hesitancy can be overcome.

2.1.1 Screen Savers One of the simplest and most familiar power saving methods is the proper use of screen savers. The typical graphical screen saver, originally designed to minimize burn-in of computer monitors, actually increases power consumption. Rather than using a 3D graphics screen saver, and with screen burn-in no longer a concern, power use easily can be reduced by disabling screen savers. In this way, power consumed by intensive graphics is eliminated, leading to the monitor falling asleep after a period of idling, automatically conserving still more power. 2.1.2 Monitor Sleep Mode Allowing the monitor to fall asleep after idling for some time period is another easily employed method for improving energy efficiency. When a monitor falls asleep or enters a stand by mode, it enters a low power consumption state. The monitor screen will be blank, with no light emitting from it. For example, a Dell 20 widescreen LCD uses approximately 55 watts of power when it is on. In sleep mode, the power use drops to around 3 watts, resulting in significant energy savings. Setting the sleep mode is done via an operating systems power options control panel. A sleeping monitor can be woken up within a couple of seconds by either moving the mouse or typing a key on the keyboard. Monitors should be configured to fall asleep in the classroom, office and at home. 2.1.3 Hard Disk Sleep Mode A computer can place its hard disk drives in a low power sleep mode when they are idle. Hard disk drives on desktop computers can use 10 watts or more when in use, while notebook computer hard drives use less. But in case of notebook, with sleep mode, energy savings have the additional benefit of extending battery charge life. Operating system settings again manage this mode automatically once configured. A hard disk drive that falls asleep is awakened within a couple of seconds by either moving the mouse or typing a key on the keyboard. This setting provides a small savings and is minimally intrusive, with more significant savings possible using system standby mode. 2.1.4 System Standby Mode System standby is one of the most effective power saving features. After a preset idling period, a computer will shutdown most of its components significantly reducing power use. Volatile memory remains active so that whatever the user was working on will still be there when the computer wakes up from standby mode. A desktop com-

2 SAVE ENERGY- DECREASE ENERGY USE BY COMPUTERS:

2.1 Computer Power Savings Modes Management of power consumption is now a very important issue while using computers. Typically, one

JOURNAL OF COMPUTING, VOLUME 4, ISSUE 5, MAY 2012, ISSN 2151-9617 https://sites.google.com/site/journalofcomputing WWW.JOURNALOFCOMPUTING.ORG

219

puter that uses more than 100 watts idling can use as little as 5 watts when in standby mode, using one twentieth of the electricity it used when idling [18]. Wake up time for system standby mode requires a few seconds, a delay that users may not be accustomed to. Standby mode is much faster than shutting down and later powering on the computer, and it preserves the computers state in memory, making it preferable for users seeking a balance between convenience and greenness. The power button of most computers can also be configured to send the computer into standby mode rather than shutting it down, further enabling users to conveniently save power.

Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT), which will similarly assist in buying an energy efficient computer.

2.1.5 Hibernate Mode The hibernate mode goes one step further than standby mode by completely powering off the computer. Invoking the hibernate mode causes the memory state to be saved onto the hard disk before powering down. When coming out of hibernate mode, the computer restores the memory state, returning the computer to its pre-hibernate state. A desktop computer will consume approximately 3 watts in hibernate mode vs. 5 watts for standby [18]. A disadvantage of the hibernate mode is that it takes slightly longer to enter and exit hibernate than standby, the result of saving and restoring the memory state to and from the disk. 2.2 To reduce carbon foot print: A "carbon footprint" is the "total set of greenhouse gas emissions caused directly and indirectly by an (individual, event, organization, and product) expressed as CO2" emissions. Since CO2 emissions are indicative of energy use, the higher the associated CO2 emissions, typically the greater the associated costs. A typical desktop PC system includes the computer (desktop or laptop), monitor, and printer. A desktop computer might need 65-250 watts of electric power when in use, and a color monitor, another 40-150 watts. A laser printer can need as much as 400 watts or more when printing, although considerably less if in standby mode. Ink-jet printers can use 12-30 watts while printing, but less than 5 watts while turned on but sitting idle. According to the Carbon Trust, an average computer suite of 50 terminals can save nearly 40 tonnes of carbon a year just by switching equipment off when not in use. As many colleges and universities run hundreds of PCs the potential savings are significant. IHEs can put into place multiple methods to decrease energy use with personal computers, such as: a) Buy energy efficient computers The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) established the ENERGY STAR Program (www.energystar.gov) in 1992 to help consumers save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices. ENERGY STAR has an online product search tool to assist people seeking energy efficient desktop and laptop computers. EPA calculates that if computers meet ENERGY STAR requirements which saves energy costs as well as reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We can also use the Electronic Product

b) Buy job oriented hardware Hardware is expensive to maintain and replace. It is important that computers and other devices are appropriate for the work that they are intended to support. Faster computers, more memory, and larger monitors are not always necessary. In addition to immediate costs, purchasing decisions have longer term ramifications. For example, a 19 monitor uses 40% more power than a 17 monitor. Consider purchasing an environmentally friendly laptop that uses about 25% of the energy of a desktop computer. c) Discard CRT monitor and use LCD monitor LCD monitors can use one-half to two-thirds the energy of a CRT monitor. Flat screen monitors also result in less eye-strain. Considerably lower power usage. A 17" LCD requires around 35 watts and 19" LCD requires around 45 watts. Whereas CRT monitor uses, more than 200% to an LCD of equivalent size. A 17" CRT requires around 90 watts and 19" CRT requires around 110 watts. CRTs emit electromagnetic radiation. Much of it is filtered by the lead heavy glass front and the rest that reaches your eyes are mostly harmless. LCDs emit a very small amount of radiation compared to CRTs. In addition a CRT emits heat which adds to the warmness of the environment. d) Turn off computer immediately when it will not be used in coming several hours Enabling users to turn off their computers at the end of the day and when not using for a longer period is a viable way to decrease related energy costs by 60%. Wasted energy, unnecessary utility bills, and increased pollution make turning off your computer at the end of your workday an easy way to reduce the environmental footprint and also save on energy cost e) Print smarter Every higher education institutes deploy a lot of printing for various purposes. It is always advisable to reduce such printouts. However, at times printing becomes an absolute necessity and can not be avoided. In such cases, money and the environment can be saved to some extent by printing the smart way. Consider installing network printer on campus rather than purchasing and maintaining printers individually for departments and offices. Ensure that it supports duplex printing and print doublesided so that lots of paper can be saved. Use of electronic print preview also avoids wasted paper. Print draft copies when appropriate; these use less ink, and are still readable. Of course, try to recycle your paper, as opposed to throwing it out. f) Avoid phantom power from connected devices When plugged in, a computer and other electronic devices still consume energy. You could save as much as

JOURNAL OF COMPUTING, VOLUME 4, ISSUE 5, MAY 2012, ISSN 2151-9617 https://sites.google.com/site/journalofcomputing WWW.JOURNALOFCOMPUTING.ORG

220

10% on your energy bill simply by unplugging such devices when they are not being used. To make this easier, buy a power strip, and plug your computer and its peripherals into that power strip, and shut off the strip when you are not using your computer. Some advanced power strips not only offer excellent power surge protection and line noise filtering, but is actually able to 'sense' the flow of electrical current through the strip's control outlet. Because of this unique ability, these can turn off selected equipment when not in use. Also, smart or programmable power strips can be programmed to shut off the computer or related equipments so that they need not be powered off individually.

g) Recycle your old computers When you no longer are able to find a use for your computer, consider ways to recycle it properly. Several of the Desktop Technologies Best Practices address properly disposing of electronic waste (e-waste). Following the 3 Rs Reduce, Reuse, Recycle we found a number of resources already available on campus to assist in disposal of e-waste. Our job became one of raising awareness, helping users find the right destination for their e-waste. Electronics are particularly well suited to reusing and recycling. Equipment that is no longer able to fill its original role can often be repurposed to a less demanding one. For example, a computer purchased as an office PC might be replaced by a faster one with more storage but still be quite useful as a kiosk machine. Eventually, though, most electronics either break or become so underresourced that they are no longer useful. It is unwise (and even illegal in some situations) to simply throw this equipment away, as it contains heavy metals and other hazardous materials. Recycling methods are available that can separate and reclaim 100% of the materials to be reintroduced into the manufacturing stream, with the dual advantages of preventing the toxic materials from entering the environment and reducing the need to obtain virgin materials from the earth. Vigilance is required in selecting a recycler, however, as much of the recycled material ends up in poor countries where it is not properly handled, presenting dangers to the health of the people and the environment.

stand alone PCs. All user functionality is lost when a thin client is disconnected from the network. Thin-client costs about the same in infrastructure as a standard PC, but the saving is in ongoing costs. Thin-client devices should last up to eight years, whereas PCs are often refreshed after about four years. Hence it reduces e-waste. A PC will typically use around 60-100 watts when in use, compared to 8-15 watts for thin-clients. Since there is substantial reduction in the electricity use, savings are both in terms of money and environment. Obviously, there are the running of the servers too, and they need to be replaced every three or four years, but they are also very energy efficient, adding only 7 watts per thin-client to the total energy consumed. Furthermore Thin-client produces little heat, which reduces the need for cooling and the rooms can be naturally ventilated. This, combined with the lower energy consumption of thin-client itself, the institutions can save a substantial amount and contribute to a greener earth by reducing the carbon footprint. One of the primary goals of almost all forms of virtualization is making the most efficient use of available system resources. For example, many of the services and software can be integrated to a single server in a virtualized environments which reduced the requirement of number of servers and the unused servers can be powered down. Making efficient use of IT resources though automatic management of resources has been part of virtualization which helps in cost savings as well as reduce energy consumption. Another method is desktop virtualization which is a computing environment in which some or all components of the system, including operating system and applications, reside in a protected environment, isolated from the underlying hardware and software platforms. The virtualization layer controls interactions between the virtual environment and the rest of the system. Essentially, servers host desktop environments specific to each user and stream applications and operating systems to the desktop. Research has indicated that for one virtualized server, institutions can save about 7,000 kilowatt hours (kWh), or four tons of CO2 emissions, every year. That of course results in a significant savings on energy. Another environmental benefit is that a reduction in servers also means a reduction in electronic waste.

3 CONSERVE ENERGY WITH THIN CLIENTS AND

VIRTULIZATION

A thin client (sometimes also called a lean or slim client) is a client computer or client software in clientserver architecture networks which depends primarily on the central server for processing activities, and mainly focuses on conveying input and output between the user and the remote server. In contrast, a thick or fat client does as much processing as possible and passes only data for communications and storage to the server.A thin client is a simple computer which needs to be connected to a server in order to work. Programmes are executed centrally on a terminal server with files saved on a file server. Thins clients only operate in a network connected to 1 or more terminal servers. They cannot operate as

4 GO ONLINE- DEPLOY SERVICES AND

INFORMATION THROUGH WEBSITE

Each institution must choose the online initiatives that best suit its mission and campus culture. Campus examples include the following initiatives:

a) E-mail practices and policies Computer users can use e-mail to reduce energy consumption by sending e-mail memos instead of paper ones. The use of e-mail continues to explode. The good news is that e-mail can be considered green because it

JOURNAL OF COMPUTING, VOLUME 4, ISSUE 5, MAY 2012, ISSN 2151-9617 https://sites.google.com/site/journalofcomputing WWW.JOURNALOFCOMPUTING.ORG

221

reduces paper use when used to distribute documents electronically, thus shrinking carbon footprints and costs.

b) Online Learning Online learning options using learning management systems and web/videoconferencing can cut back on the need for traditional physical classrooms (and other infrastructure) while also reducing travel costs and associated energy use. Online learning also reduces the need for campus utilities with fewer classrooms used, less heating, air conditioning, and lighting are needed. In addition, traditional face-to-face classrooms tend to use a lot of paper for such things as handouts and course assignments. Online courses usually put most, if not all, course communications in digital format. Instead of printing out and handing in their assignments, students e-mail their instructor an electronic document or post assignments through an online course management system. Unless the instructor assigns a textbook (and an increasing number of online courses use online materials instead of print texts), everything is digital. The impact of online learning on the colleges sustainability efforts appears substantial. c) Telecommuting The cost of sending message can be reduced to travelling back and forth to campus (and the accompanying CO2 emissions) is by instituting telecommuting arrangements for campus employees. Telecommuting programs can be enhanced by using a secure VPN (virtual private network) when working at home or on the road. d) Desktop Web (or Video) Conferencing In an era of increasing use of asynchronous education, training, and communication, there also is a continuing need for synchronous training and communication. Nocost or low-cost alternatives to face-to-face meetings and teaching are increasingly available. Desktop web (or video) conferencing can reduce the travel needed for student office visits, staff and faculty meetings, and class sessions. Web conferencing applications allow instructors to teach face-to-face classes with audio and video to and from offcampus locations. Also, users can employ web conferencing to conduct face-to-face meetings from desktop or laptop computers with people at remote locations. Whereas much of the existing online learning today occurs in asynchronous classes, desktop web or videoconferencing provides opportunities for instructors to teach live, synchronous classes via the Internet. However, face-to-face takes on new meaning when desktop web conferencing applications allow participants to see and hear one another.

monitoring, server virtualization, and desktop virtualization. Because the state of the environment and the threat of global warming is an increasingly pressing concern among students, universities are eager to prove that they are green.. The focus towards green computing is a recent phenomena. The main sustainability efforts focus on recycling, or lighting waste products. There are many universities moving towards greater energy efficiency for economic reasons alone. Thus there may be projects such as data center consolidation or server virtualization (as well as HVAC and refrigeration upgrades) that are not necessarily being trumpeted as green innovations, but rather as cost-saving measures. There are quite a number of Universities and Campuses that have demonstrated leadership in green computing or related energy-saving efforts. We are mentioning some of these: (1) Binghamton University, SUNY: Binghamton uses a closely monitored Energy Management System (EMS) to monitor its energy use. There are now more than 46,000 monitoring control/points on the EMS system. (2) Cornell University: Cornell has a Sustainable Computing Committee within Facilities Services/Information Technology. They aim to re-use 95% of all computers and are running a thin client pilot project. Their accomplishment include publishing recommendations on computing energy conservation, publishing a guide to sustainable Campus: Green, Greener, Greenest computing, maintaining an educational website, running recycling programs, and establishing purchasing guidelines. (3) Georgia Institute of Technology: GIT partnered with IBM to create a highly efficient supercomputing data center. (4) Harvard University: The FAS Campus Energy Reduction Program encourages energy conservation across the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. Other schools, including the Medical School and School of Public Health, are beginning to emulate this successful model. In the area of green computing, they promote the practices described earlier in this section and have developed a purchasing guide. See Section 2.7 for information about funding models. (5) University of Michigan: The University of Michigan Utilities and Maintenance Services Department, Energy Management Division has written and distributed a booklet UM Guide to Green Computing: What You Can Do to Conserve Energy On and Off Campus and posted tips online. Some of this advice has also been posted online by the Occupational Safety and Environmental Health (OSEH) program as part of their pollution prevention plan. (6)Rockhurst University: Rockhurst University in

5 GREEN COMPUTING IN HIGHER EDUCATION

Different Universities across the globe face unique challenges in implementing green computing. Some campuses are still in the process of assessing their energy use; others have issued statements of principle or set up websites but have not yet embarked on any major initiatives; a few are exploring large-scale solutions such as energy

JOURNAL OF COMPUTING, VOLUME 4, ISSUE 5, MAY 2012, ISSN 2151-9617 https://sites.google.com/site/journalofcomputing WWW.JOURNALOFCOMPUTING.ORG

222

Kansas City is implementing thin client virtualization technology to replace 230 desktop computers in 18 computer labs across campus. The thin client workstations use 90 percent less energy than traditional computers. The computers being replaced will be donated to local non-profit organizations. (7) Stanford University: A software called Big Fix is an enterprise suite commercial software package that enables the centralized management of operating systems, was initially deployed to help protect the university from virus attacks. As part of sustainability efforts, the power management features of Big Fix are now being promoted. (8) Yale University: Here the Office of Sustainability promotes the use of power management features and the purchase of Energy Star rated products. It is interesting to note that leadership of the initiatives described above resides in different sites from campus to campus. In some cases it is Facilities or IT, in others it is research-driven, while others are led by emerging Sustainability offices, which are positioned differently at various universities.

REFERENCES:
[1] Green Computing - a new Horizon of Energy Efficiency and Electronic waste minimization: a Global Perspective, Shalabh Agarwal and Asoke Nath : Proceedings of IEEE CSNT-2011 held at SMVDU(Jammu) 03-06 June 2011, Page 688-693. Cloud Computing is an application of Green Computing a new horizon of Energy Efficiency and its beyondShalabh Agarwal, Asoke Nath roceedings of International conference ICCA 2012 held at Pondechery Jan 27-31, 2012. Sustainable Approaches and Good Practices in Green Software Engiineering, Shalabh Agarwal, Asoke Nath, Dipayan Chowdhury, International Journal of research and Reviews in Computer Science, Vol. 3, No.1, Feb, Pg. 2079-2557(2112) 3 ways IT can support greener behaviors, By Claudia Girrbach Three Approaches to Green Computing on Campus, By John T. Thompson Bottom Up and Top Down: Making IT a Key Part of the Campus Sustainability effort, By Dennis Cromwell, Kristin Hanks, and Sarah Engel Green Desktop Computing at the University of Oxford, By Howard Noble, Daniel Curtis, and Kang Tang Green IT Not Only in Name, By Richard Hodges and Sarah Sorensen Going Green: A Holistic Approach to Transform Business - Dr. Sajal Kabiraj, Dr. Vinay Topkar, R.C. Walke A Guide to the conscientious purchase, use and disposal of ICT, November 2010, Global e-Schools and Communities Initiative Green IT: Why Mid-size Companies Are Investing Now, Info-Tech Research Group, Toronto. Ontario [Green IT: Saving Money while Saving Energy Moving Beyond the Hype to Build a Powerful Business Case for Power Management, Umesh Shah, AdrienneMcAninch, NumaraSoftware.com Strategic Overview: Managing Sustainable ICT in Further and Higher Education, JISC Thin-client Saves Energy Cost, A Case Study in Green ICT, JISC Virtualization and green computing, By Dan Kusnetzky White Paper Save Green and Go green with Thin-Clients, BOSanova http://www.vpit.ualberta.ca/green/

[2]

[3]

[4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10]

6 CONCLUSION AND FUTURE SCOPE:

Power management, e-mail, online learning and virtualisation are potential approaches to green computing. Computer users can start making a small but significant difference in reducing how much energy each one personally consumes in using technology. Such small decreases in individual energy use can scale up into substantial decreased costs and carbon footprint on an institutional level. The green computing programs have a positive impact on the environment at the same time it reduces energy costs. However, what is most important for the success of such green initiatives in Higher Education Institutes are the awareness about Green Computing and appropriate planning to implement the concepts. There is a need to engage individuals by building a culture of awareness and educate the students and management on the benefits of Green Computing in terms of sustainability and cost savings. Ease of learning can be projected as another incentive with online learning environment. The policy makers will have to insist the value of participation in the effort of green computing by building it into the policy of the institution. Passion, communication, and collaboration will be required to create new habits that promote sustainable computing. Building an institution of environmental stewardship requires systemic changes in strategy, operational tasks, and personal practice, from the bottom up and the top down. Spreading the awareness about sustainable computing and implementation of green computing initiatives should be the primary objective of the IT policy makers in Higher Educational Institutes. Moreover these green practices should be inculcated in the students so that they can put it in practice in their future endeavours.
[11] [12]

[13] [14] [15] [16] [17]