Green Computing and Energy Awareness

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Green Computing and Energy Awareness
Report of the Green Computing Task Group to the
Information Services Committee (ISC)
Presentation to ITSIG January 17, 2007 Catherine
Steeves and Gillian Maurice
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Campus Energy Use
110,473,000 kWh of electricity
Enough to heat and power 4,700 homes, a community
the size of Elliot Lake, ON
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This matters because

• 32,800 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year, or over
  7,000 cars (in one year)

1000
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This matters because

• 9.2 million electricity bill

15,000
360,000
30
9.2 million
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Breaking down electricity

• 50 mechanical
• 35 lighting
• 15 plug-load
• Where can we find efficiencies?

15 1.38 million, 4,900 GHG, 1200 cars
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Green Computing Task Force

• Struck by ISC in response to study Environmental
  Impact of Computer Information Technology in an
  Institutional Setting A Case Study at the
  University of Guelph
• Terms of Reference
• Identify green computing best practices
• Examine computing procurement guidelines
• Identify energy conservation strategies and
  practices
• Identify equipment disposal procedures
• Recommend a campus awareness program

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Task Force Members

• Aiden Abram, Student Representative to ISC
• Gillian Maurice, Sustainability Coordinator,
  Physical Resources
• Blair Nonnecke, Associate Professor, Computing
  and Information Science
• Catherine Steeves, Chair, Associate Chief
  Librarian for Information Technology Services
• Dale Stevanus, Manager, Purchasing Services
• Jeff Walker, Systems Support Manager, Library

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What is Green Computing?

• The positive (or least negative) relationship
  between the physical computer and its impact to
  the environments in which it moves through from
  cradle to grave
• Impact measures throughout the lifecycle of the
  computer from manufacture and use to recycling
  and disposal

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From cradle.Computer Procurement

• Purchasing Services develop a green purchasing
  policy for computers
• Companies which manufacture and operate in
  environmentally sensitive ways
• Manufacture to electrical efficiency standards
• RD to improve products environmental impact

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To grave.Computer Disposal

• Current UG e-waste disposal program represents a
  best practice
• Formalize reuse and reallocation procedures and
  policies in conjunction with Physical Resources
  furniture disposition policy and in consultation
  with campus IT community

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And everywhere in betweenAwareness, Policy, and
Use

• Campus Awareness Program
• Survey to gauge awareness of energy reduction
  and waste reduction practices and identify
  barriers to participation
• Campaign development offering incentives and
  long-term behaviour modification strategies
• Measure success and publicize success

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University of GuelphPolicy on Environmental
Protection

• Acknowledges a responsibility for and a
  commitment to protection of the environment on a
  continuous improvement basis
• Promotes an supports environmental management
  policies and environmentally responsible
  practices at every level and every department
• Is committed to minimizing environmental impacts
  arising from the universitys activities
• Environmental Health and Safetys Policy on
  Health and Safety 851.01.01

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And everywhere in betweenAwareness, Policy, and
Use

• Computer Use - Best Practices
• Implementing power management options on machines
• Reducing the overall on time of the system as a
  whole
• Reducing the overall on time of the monitor in
  particular

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And everywhere in betweenAwareness, Policy, and
Use

• Energy Conservation Strategies
• Survey current computer power management policies
  and practices across campus
• Coordinate participation of IT personnel in an
  energy reduction plan
• Develop configuration standards, with IT
  personnel, to reduce energy consumption of
  computers

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Next Steps You can be involved!

• Survey of current practices/ configurations
• Establish a starting point
• January 31st deadline
• Formation of working group late Feb
• 3 or 4 members from IT community to work with the
  Sustainability Program
• Full plan and implementation strategy by April
  11th

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For More Information

• Report of the Green Computing Task Group Campus
  Computing and the Environment
• Sustainability at U of G
• Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility
  Resources on Computers and the Environment

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Contact us

• Gillian Maurice
• Sustainability Coordinator
• Ext. 51829
• sustain_at_pr.uoguelph.ca

• Catherine Steeves
• Library ITS
  Ext. 58526
• csteeves_at_uoguelph.ca