Saturday, January 21, 2012

GREEN TECH: In Harmony with our World ~ [didn't win. :( ]

Advancements on technology don’t have to be hindrances to our environment. This is because of the growing movement on the efficient usage of eco-friendly components and devices, much known as GREEN COMPUTING.

Green computing, or Green technology, is related to the movements on promoting reduction of environmentally hazardous materials. Shelly Casman, author of Discovering Computers 2010, says that it’s not merely about the production of energy-efficient computer peripherals and gadgets. More importantly, it’s on providing customers with easy ways on how to reuse or recycle their old computers.

The Information Communications Technology industry is responsible for 3% of our environmental concerns brought about by improper power management. With it growing to 20% annually, by research and statistics, it’s predicted that by 2030, this will cause for the damage to double up. The issue of climate change and global warming is something experienced by all, either you’re a computer user or not. Thus being a computer user who brings contribution on world crisis, you must know how to be of help on saving the planet it.

This is the essence of green computing. Its goal is to provide society’s needs in a way that would not deplete its resources.

Back in 1992, the first effort for saving the earth through our tech-devices was the launching of Energy Star. It introduced the Sleep mode on computers which saves more amount of power than simply putting it to power-saver. In year 2009, the industry of computers increased its focus on green computing. Devices were made for the benefit not only of their users, but of their environment as well.

VIA, which stands for Very Innovative Architecture, technology proved its innovation on their production of carbon-free devices. Carbon is a huge percent in what causes the blanket-like layer of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere that causes heat rays to be trapped and reflected back to our planet. The production and usage of our gadgets, big and small, emits carbon that when put together becomes harmful enough. Thus what VIA started is indeed a smart and helpful way in saving our environment.

Another step for technology was the debut of Nanotechnology. It provides efficiency in service while consuming less energy.

Dell and Intel products also gave their part on the movement of green technology. Dell, founded by Michael Dell, used silicon on their components that contribute to reduced energy consumption. Intel on the other hand, introduced quality devices and peripherals that are also eco-friendly.

Through this past decade, our Philippines had been one of the top digital penetrating countries in Asia. So as citizens of our nation and as children of our sole Mother Earth, we must take part on healing the destruction we’ve made on her resources. Here are some useful tips:

• Use LCD(Liquid Crystal Display) monitors instead of CRT(Cathode Ray Tube) monitors.
• For cooling systems, use liquid powered ones. Liquid cooling systems are more eco-friendly than the conventional heat sinks and fans.
• When using laptops, it is also advisable to refrain from putting them on top of hard surfaces that can trap the heat underneath.
• Don’t switch devices on and off constantly. This would cause the current to increase at power on. It’s much better to just leave the device on, but make sure it’s in sleep mode or in power saver. With power saving, we save 10-15% energy, plus we also extend the life of our devices.
• Look for units that assure you energy saving.
• When planning on buying a PC, consider a laptop instead.
• Research on ways to recycle your computer components. Disposing of these materials would only add to eWaste, also known as Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment, which are discarded computer components that bring hazard to the environment caused by the materials in which they’re made.

Huge manufacturing companies had already started taking part in reducing the environmental crisis. It’s time for us to take action, too. We get a lot of advantage from Green technology that benefits not only ourselves. When we do smart and green computing, we just don’t save costs on our bills. We also save earth.

By this let’s practice green computing for a brighter future and a greener world. Remember, without our Mother Earth, we won’t be here using our laptops today!

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