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An Approach to En Route
Environmentally Sustainable Future
Through Green Computing
Bhubaneswari Bisoyi and Biswajit Das
Abstract Green computing aims in attaining sustainable future by implementation
of practices that uses computing resources economically and eco-friendly manner.
The prime aspiration is to minimize the practice of hazardous materials and capi-
talize on energy efficiency throughout the product’s lifespan. Green computing
encourages recyclability of obsolete products and wastages released from factory.
With due course of time, companies where information technology is implemented
have realized that going green is beneficiary both in terms of maintaining public
relations and reduced overheads. This paper focuses on various factors that moti-
vate companies to implement green computing and put into practice e-waste
recycling process. The main motive behind this study is to promote e-waste man-
agement as a factor of green computing. The study also focuses on attainting
sustainability using this approach.
Keywords Green computing Carbon footprint e-waste management
Recycling
1 Introduction
With the commencement of industrial revolution, exploitation of fossil fuels and
other non-renewable resources had began which unknowingly polluted the envi-
ronment leading to rise in carbon footprint globally. It took somewhat a long period
for realizing that damage has been done towards our atmosphere. Today, it is our
prime responsibility to develop measures that are environment friendly and will
lead to attend sustainable future. It is high time to adapt green technology to meet
the need of the hour. With rise in innovation, invention and other technological
B. Bisoyi (&)B. Das
KIIT University, Bhubaneswar, India
e-mail: bhubaneswari.bisoyi@gmail.com
B. Das
e-mail: biswajit@ksom.ac.in
©Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2018
S. C. Satapathy et al. (eds.), Smart Computing and Informatics, Smart Innovation,
Systems and Technologies 77, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-5544-7_61
621
development such as computer and several other devices such as mobile phone,
tablets, camera that are closely associated with our daily routine consume relative
amount of energy. The period of innovation cycle has reduced with advancement in
technology; therefore, the rate of obsolesce of electronic products has increased
which leads to electronic waste (e-waste) [1,2].
The technological progression provides ample scope for exploring energy
management and e-waste management in order to facilitate a green computing
approach in the computing sector. Recycling of e-waste products and eco-friendly
approach is considered to a viable option for implementing green computing and for
sustainable future. The area of focus in this paper is on realizing green computing
through e-waste management. The various methods used for making this approach
viable have been discussed in this paper.
We can define green computing as the practice that leads to use computing
resources in an efficient manner and thereby minimizing adverse impact on envi-
ronment. The goal of green computing is not limited to reduction in carbon foot-
print but also to reduce usage of hazardous materials throughout the supply chin
and also in the manufacturing process [3].
2 Concept of Green Computing
The term green computing can also be called as green IT that aims in attaining
economic feasibility and enhances effective use of computing devices. Green
computing practices comprise of improvisation in production practices for sus-
tainable environment, energy efficient processors and better technique for disposal
of electronic wastes (e-wastes) and recycling of these waste products. To promote
green computing practices globally, we can implement four approaches as men-
tioned below [4–6]:
Green use: Reducing power spending of computers and secondary devices attached
with it and utilizing these devices in an eco-friendly approach.
Green discarding: Re-using existing electronic devices or correctly discarding of or
recycling of product.
Green design: Planning to use devices such as energy efficient computers and other
devices such as printer, server, projector.
Green development: Reducing waste during the process of production of computers
and other devices attached with it to minimize environmental impact.
3 Factors Motivating to Adopt Green Computing
The following development that influences data centres and also impacts electronic
devices such as desktop computers for adopting green computing practices [7,8].
622 B. Bisoyi and B. Das
3.1 Rise in Usage of Internet
With increase in dependability on electronic data, the number and size of data
centre have increased. This growth is due to quick espousal of communication
through Internet and media, automation of business processes and function carried
out such as retention of all accounts, disaster recuperation and many more. The
percentage growth in Internet usage annually is more than 10% leading to increase
in building up data centre at a rate of 20% CAGR.
3.2 Mounting Power Density of Equipments
Even though improvisation in server CPU in several cases has enabled superior
performances with low energy consumption per CPU, but taken as a whole, server
energy consumption has increased with demand in installing CPU with bigger
memory capacity to minimize the use of floor space, the form factor of servers has
been reduced. This leads to rise in power density of data centre. The density has
increased more than ten times as it was in 1996–2007.
3.3 Escalation in Requirement of Energy for Maintenance
of Data Centre
The rise in power density of server has led to an associated boost in heat density of
data centre. In order to cool the server requirement of power, 1–1.5 W of power is
required for cooling per unit of heat. When we calculated the cost of maintenance of
data centre, it exceeds the cost of equipment.
3.4 Precincts of Power Supply and Access
Renowned companies such as Google, Microsoft and Yahoo with requirement of
big data centre need energy supply for sustainable operation of data centre, but they
are unable to get adequate power requirement in American cities. Therefore, they
have set up new data centres near Columbia River to draw energy for hydroelectric
source.
An Approach to En Route Environmentally Sustainable Future …623
3.5 Low Rate of Server Utilization
The major problem in data centre is issue related to efficiency of energy use. The
average server utilization rate is about 5–10% of bigger data centre. Server uti-
lization is low which means increasing the cost of energy supply, maintenance and
operation.
3.6 Emerging Consciousness About Impact of IT
on Atmosphere
There exists a proportional relationship between carbon emissions with usage of
energy. In the year 2007, about 44 million servers have been set up worldwide, and
the power consumed for these data centre is about 0.5% of total electricity pro-
duced. Their combined carbon footprint has reached 80 metric megatons of carbon
dioxide in the Netherland and Argentina. This figure is expected to reach about 340
metric megatons by year 2020. This pollution in our environment would be only
due to electronic products [9–11].
4 Electronic Waste (e-Waste)
With revolution in the information technology, many new technologies have been
developed and range of product is available at an affordable price to public. The life
cycle of these innovate product is very less, and they become obsolete with due
course of time.But on the other hand, it lends to uncontrolled resource consumption
and alarming e-waste management. The problem of e-waste is faced both by
developed countries and developing countries. The whole range of electronic and
electrical products such as computers, mobile, refrigerators, television and many
more contains toxic materials that are hazardous to environment. Many of the
developments used in our daily work are unsustainable and pose severe con-
frontation to environment and towards human health. Therefore, our focus should
be towards optimal and efficient use of renewable resources, reducing waste
products and built an environmentally sustainable recycling process for disposal of
various categories of waste products. This initiative would help in achieving sus-
tainable economic growth with enhancing living style.
The issue of e-waste has been handled by European Union (EU) and other
developed countries by defining policies and also by adopting various methods for
recycling and disposing of waste products. This type of waste product was by EU as
“Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment”(WEEE). In our country, WEEE is
called as e-waste [12,13].
624 B. Bisoyi and B. Das
4.1 Duration of Electronic Equipments
The useful life period of all electronic products has relatively decreased due to
change in features of equipment and competency. The life period of central pro-
cessing unit has reduced from 4 to 6 years in 1997 and to 2 years in 2005. The
average lifetime for various electronic devices is mentioned below for the device
which will operate without getting obsolete [13,14] (Table 1).
4.2 Estimation of Total e-Waste Produced Yearly
The total e-waste excepted during the period 2014–2016 for the different electronic
devices in metric tonne is mentioned below in Table 2. Figure 1shows the
e-wastage of various devices from 2014 to 2016.
5 Recycling
At present, scenario with technological innovation and modern marketing strategy
to mitigate customer demand has led to rapid yield of electrical and electronic
equipments (EEE). With reduction in cost of electronic product and increase in
providing value in terms of various features, old electronic products are getting
obsolete and leading to generate e-waste. Recycling of these electronic wastes can
minimize the pollution caused by these wastes [15,16] (Fig. 2).
Table 1 Devices and their average lifespan
Device Avg. lifetime in years
Desktop 5
Laptop 4
Television 10
Mobile phones 6
Printer 4
Table 2 Estimation of total e-waste produced yearly
Device 2014 2015 2016
Desktop PCs 59,558 66,429 67,102
Laptops 12,640 15,248 20,673
Mobile phones 22,919 23,101 28,827.5
Televisions 130,200 145,800 168,000
Total e-waste generated annually 225,317 250,578 284,602.5
An Approach to En Route Environmentally Sustainable Future …625
5.1 Formal Recyclers
The registered organizations having proper licensing for execution of e-waste
recycling are called as formal recyclers. Environmental Protection Bureaus are the
authorizing organization for issuing licences. The State Environment Protection
Administration (SEPA) provides licences for recycling of materials and that clas-
sified under hazardous waste are also sometimes necessary [17,18].
Fig. 1 e-wastage of various devices from 2014 to 2016
Fig. 2 Recycling of e-waste
626 B. Bisoyi and B. Das
5.2 Informal Recyclers
The participants are considered outside the official regulatory bodies. The activities
carried out by these parties cannot be tracked as no official record is being main-
tained; therefore, they are called illegal [17,19,20].
The prime focus of this informal recycler is to remove material from waste
product and refurbish. The reason behind increase in informal recycling is men-
tioned below:
i. Customer unwillingness to pay for disposing of their electronic products.
ii. Unregulated importance of second hand products.
iii. Due to lack of awareness among customers, collectors, recyclers about vul-
nerable exposure to wastes.
iv. Lack of proper tactics, infrastructure and organization to execute extraction
and disposal processes.
v. Lack of interest in e-waste.
The practical implementation for recycling of e-waste through devices such as
e-dustbin using sensor system can segregate wastes that can be recycled and reused.
This will contribute towards reduction in pollution to our environment and shall
motivate for societal development.
6 Conclusion
There are many factors that are associated with the end-of-life disposal of e-waste
management. The complexity of the materials used, occurrence of hazardous
substances, lack of awareness, legislative requirements, availability of technologies,
supply chain uncertainty are some of the major issues pertaining with e-waste
management. Hence, it is a challenge to us to establish proper line-up to pave a
sustainable path of future to ensure green computing. Progress in research and
development is increasing, and formal recycling is gaining pace every day. This, on
the one hand, ensures recyclability and reusability, thereby enhancing the life cycle
of the electronic product. So informal sector is beneficial as well as it is harmful.
Integration of informal sector with formal sectors and training them properly could
be a viable solution. Awareness among the consumers is increasing. Earlier, the
consumers used to care about only speed and price while buying computers. But as
Moore’s Law marches on and computers commodities, consumers will be choosy
enough about being green. There are problems, and there are solutions to this
e-waste problem. There are economical and social issues that drive the skilled
informal sector which is the real deal to the environmental problem. Hence, the
sustainability of the e-waste management system will depend on how well this
informal sector is tackled. In other words, the future lies in their hands, and
An Approach to En Route Environmentally Sustainable Future …627
arguably, it can be commented that optimization and negotiation between the
government and this thriving sector will certainly lead us to a sustainable future.
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