Before I give suggestions on how to implement “green campus computing” in my school (USEP), I would first like to define what it means. Enable to do this, I will break the phrase ‘green campus computing’ into two: “green” and “campus computing”.
According to wikipedia, computing is defined as ‘the activity of developing and using computer technology, including computer hardware and software.’ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computing) Therefore, Campus Computing can be defined as the use or the development of computer technology within the bounds of the university. In the area of campus computing, Kenneth C. Green, is a prominent if not the leading authority in the subject. He is the founder of The Campus Computing Project. You could visit their website, www.campuscomputing.net. Although their study was first based on American universities, they are now extending to other countries. In a general view their Campus Computing Survey is an annual study or report on the use or misuse and the state of computing technology in the surveyed campuses.
“Green”, on the other hand, connotes environmental awareness or having a positive effect on the environment. Hence, ‘Green Campus Computing’ would roughly mean the positive effect of the use of computer technology in campuses on the environment.
One study of the effects of computing technology on the environment can be found on this link: http://www.isc.uoguelph.ca/documents/061211GreenComputingFinalReport2006_000.pdf. This is a case study by the University of Guelph on the impact of Computing Technology on their campus.
Now, knowing what Green Campus Computing means, we could now suggest ways on how to implement this concept in USEP. The University of Colorado produced a guide on how to apply Green Computing in their university. It could be found in this link: http://ecenter.colorado.edu/energy/projects/green_computing.html.
For the University of Southeastern Philippines, to be known as a university that applies the concepts of Green Campus Computing would mean applying them from the beginning ( defined in the case study in the University of Guelph as the cradle phase) until the end (defined as End of Use) of using computing technologies. When I say beginning , I mean upon or before the purchase of computing technologies and the End meaning when the said technologies are no longer usable even to the event of their disposal.
Beginning – upon buying computing technologies, the USEP should go for technologies that have power saving devices or devices that have a positive effect or at least a lesser harmful effect on the environment. (ex. Green screen TV, LCD flat panel displays, etc)
During Use – this is defined as the time wherein the technology is functional. There are a lot of ways to help the environment during this period and some of them are listed or mentioned in the University of Colorado’s Green Computing Guide some of these are:
1. Switching all appliances off whenever they are not in use. If for some reason a computer can’t be turned off then at the least the monitor should be turned off. This also goes with the printers, never turn on the printer unless it would be used.
2. DO NOT USE screen savers. Screen savers do not save energy.
3. When printing use a small font size if possible to conserve more ink.
4. Recycle all used paper. If only one side of the paper has print, the paper can be used as scratch paper.
5. The USEP should also allot a portion of their budget on buying good protection (Anti-virus Softwares and the like) for their computers. A lot of hardware is destroyed in the laboratories due to weak or unprotected computers including those of the students.
End – a lot of unused computer monitors can be seen inside the laboratory (LAB1). If those monitors are unusable due to some reason or another, then the university should find a way to dispose of them properly. That way should be friendly to the environment. I also saw a lot of floppy disks that were just thrown away. These disks could still be used if they are formatted.
Refferences:
1. www.campuscomputing.net
2. http://ecenter.colorado.edu/energy/projects/green_computing.html.
3. http://www.isc.uoguelph.ca/documents/061211GreenComputingFinalReport2006_000.pdf
4. www.umich.edu/~sites/green.html
5. http://media.www.dailyutahchronicle.com/media/storage/paper244/news/2007/09/14/News/Campus.Computing.Comes.Up.Green-2969071.shtml
6. http://technologysource.org/article/campus_computing_project/
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