Green computing aims to support environmental and social responsibility in addition to financial performance. It focuses on improving energy efficiency, promoting recyclability, and reducing hazardous materials. Existing programs like ENERGY STAR and EPEAT establish standards for energy efficiency and the life cycle of electronic products. A case study found that a government data center saved energy by restricting employee access at nights and weekends without compromising security or oversight through remote maintenance. However, e-cycling programs have high costs and only 50% of usable electronics are recycled, with 70-80% shipped overseas without proper disposal methods.

1. What is Green Computing?
 The use of resources to better support the triple
bottom line (TBL or 3BL).
 The triple bottom line expands traditional financial
reports to take into account ecological and social
performance.

2. Roles of Green Computing
 Improve energy efficiency
 Promote Recyclability
 Reduction of environmentally hazardous material

3. Existing International Programs
 ENERGY STAR
 A standard for energy efficient consumer products
 Saves 20-30% of energy in addition to federal standards
 Electronic Products Environmental Assessment Tool
(EPEAT)
 A standard that covers the entire life-cycle of a product.
 combines criteria of design, production, energy use and
recyclability with ongoing independent verification.

4. Business Process Effects
A government data center in Vermont went “lights out” on
weekends and from midnight to 6:00am on week days.
“Lights out” means the doors are locked and no regular
employees are to present.
Lessons learned
1. Going lights out is not all or nothing.
 Data centers do not need as many offices as in the past.
2. Make sure you have support.
 Support is required not only from supervisors but state unions
too. Unions will try to prevent the firing of employees.

5. Business Process Effects
3. Fewer people does not mean less oversight.
 There is more information and more oversight.
 The responsibility shifts to remote maintenance.
 Employees can be come more familiar with the system.
4. Fewer people means more security.
 Less incidence of cord tripping, and computer or data
theft.
5. Going green doesn’t have to be expensive.
 Instead of buying new state-of-the-art systems,
manufacturers of exiting products may have cheaper
available solutions, as in the case of this example.

6. E-Cycling and E-Waste
 The re-use and end of life disposal of an electronic
product.
 The cost to the firm increases and is passed onto
consumers.
 Governments can provide subsidies to help firms but
the consumer still pays through taxes.

7. E-Cycling and E-Waste
 North America and Europe has recycling programs but
50% of usable products are still thrown away.
 Recycling programs ship 70% to 80% to third-world
countries where there are not enough environmentally
friendly methods of recovery and disposal.

8. Conclusion
 Energy efficiency and e-cycling have tangible
monetary benefits.
 Energy efficiency shows more benefits than e-cycling.
 There is not enough global support to implement
effective and efficient e-cycling programs.