How green computing is contributing to a healthier planet
Such practices assume importance as the information and communication technology (ICT) sector accounts for 1.8%-3.9% of global greenhouse gas emissions, and data centers take up 3% of annual energy consumption, a rise of 100% in the last decade.
Sustainable computing or green computing is a practice of maximising energy efficiency and minimising the negative impacts on the environment. It involves green practices in the ways computer chips, data storage systems and software are designed and used.
According to a report published by the Association for Computing Machinery, “The energy demands and carbon output of computing and the entire ICT sector must be dramatically moderated if climate change is to be slowed in time to avoid catastrophic environmental damage.”
Sudhir Goel, Chief Business Officer of Acer India, says, “We have joined the global RE100 initiative, pledging to utilise 100% renewable energy by 2035.
In 2021, we achieved a remarkable 45% renewable energy usage. Acer is also actively reducing its carbon footprint by implementing measures such as using post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic content in its core products, shipping millions of units with PCR plastics, and ensuring up to 85% of notebook packaging cushions have been made from recycled paper pulp.
Moreover, Acer has set ambitious goals to achieve a 45% reduction in energy consumption by 2025 compared to the baseline year 2016.”
Sustainable computing products
Experts see product design and manufacturing as key areas that can help reduce the impact of technology on the environment. These areas would help to cut the heat generated by these computing products, lowering the carbon price tag of computing.
