Green Computing Overview and Issues

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Questions and Answers

Which of the following is a European Union directive related to e-waste management?

Basel Convention

National Computing Recycling Act

Electronic Waste Recycling Act

WEEE Directive (correct)

What is the primary goal of reducing power usage in green computing?

To develop more complex software

To enhance storage capabilities

To increase computational speed

To save money and help the environment (correct)

Which of these is a method recommended for reducing power use in computing?

Using multiple power supplies

Disabling power saving settings

Increasing CPU clock speed

Data de-duplication (correct)

What does the term virtualization refer to in the context of green computing?

Creating virtual versions of hardware resources (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the steps that can assist in reducing power consumption of monitors?

Adjusting resolution or brightness to reasonable levels (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect of computing hardware is focused on when mentioning low-power components?

Reducing the power consumption of individual parts (A) Signup and view all the answers

The RoHS is a directive related to green computing, what does it focus on?

Restricting the use of hazardous substances (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the recommendations for storage to minimize power usage?

Utilizing large capacity drives, when possible (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of the Basel Convention regarding waste?

Minimizing the quantity and toxicity of generated wastes. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes a key restriction imposed by the Basel Convention?

Banning the movement of waste between parties and non-parties of the convention. (C) Signup and view all the answers

How does the Basel Convention attempt to reduce overall waste generation?

By discouraging the creation of waste that might be transported to other countries. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Besides setting restrictions on waste movement, what additional regulation does the convention call for?

A protocol for liability in damages resulting from hazardous waste movement. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What do the EU's WEEE and RoHS directives primarily focus on?

Managing both the creation and handling of e-waste. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary objective of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE)?

To mandate collection, recycling, and recovery goals for electronic waste. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What was the deadline for EU member states to adopt the WEEE Directive into national law?

August 13, 2004 (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary distinction between direct and indirect emissions for a company?

Direct emissions are from sources owned or controlled by the company, whereas indirect emissions result from company activities but occur in sources owned by others. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which directive was adopted alongside the WEEE Directive in February 2003 by the European Union?

Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following examples best illustrates an indirect emission for a company?

Emissions from employees’ flights for business trips. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the main environmental benefit of server virtualization, as per Vanderbilt’s IT Services?

It reduces the number of physical servers and therefore reduces the impact on the environment. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the 'one-two punch' benefit of repurposing old computer equipment?

It saves money on new purchases and reduces recycling need. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the annual reduction on energy cost for a desktop left idle for 40 hours a week compared to 168 hours a week, in the provided content?

Approximately $40 (C) Signup and view all the answers

According to the content, besides the environmental concerns, why is power consumption an important issue for companies?

Because it has a direct impact on financial expenditures. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Based on the content, what is the impact of using more power on electrical utilities?

Utilities will have to burn more fossil fuels. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What point is the content making when discussing a 24-port Ethernet switch?

Ethernet switches are an essential component that should be made as energy efficient as possible. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following product categories are within the scope of China RoHS but not EU RoHS?

Automotive electronics (D) Signup and view all the answers

What does the Electronic Information Products (EIP) logo indicate on a product?

The product does not contain unacceptable levels of substances listed by China RoHS (C) Signup and view all the answers

If a product contains hazardous substances under China RoHS, what additional information must be included with the EIP logo?

The Environmental Protection Use Period (EPUP) in years (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary benefit of using large buffers when playing media from storage devices?

To minimize the spinning of hard drives, DVDs, or CDs, thus saving power. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which of these substances is banned under both EU RoHS and China RoHS?

Lead (D) Signup and view all the answers

Under China RoHS, what is the initial requirement for marking a product that contains hazardous substances?

A mark and disclosure of the six hazardous substances and their location (C) Signup and view all the answers

Why is it more efficient to reduce the number of storage drives?

Fewer drives reduce the power consumed and generated heat. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Besides disclosing the presence of hazardous substances in a product, what else needs to be indicated according to China RoHS if they are present?

The Environment-Friendly Use Period (EFUP) (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the mechanisms used by green hard drives to reduce power consumption?

Unloading the heads during idle periods. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of a MAID system?

To store near-line data using a large array of hard drives while minimizing power use. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following needs to be disclosed on the outside packaging based on China RoHS requirements?

Packaging material (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which product category is within the scope of EU RoHS but NOT China RoHS based on the text?

Toys (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a drawback of MAID systems, compared to RAID?

Increased latency and potentially lower throughput. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Why were SATA drives important in the development of MAID architecture?

SATA drives were designed for frequent power cycles (spin-up/spin-down). (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is a typical percentage of disks spinning at any give time in a large MAID deployment?

25 percent (C) Signup and view all the answers

Compared to tape drives, how does data access in a MAID system compare?

MAID systems have much faster data access than tape drives. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of air-side economizers in a data center cooling system?

To draw in outside air for cooling when it's suitably cold. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant disadvantage of using air-side economizers?

They may introduce pollution and alter humidity levels in the datacenter. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What additional measures should be considered when using air-side economizers?

Implementing air filters and supplemental humidification. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the main principle behind water-side economizers?

Using cooling towers to produce chilled water indirectly. (D) Signup and view all the answers

In what type of environment or situation are water-side economizers most effective?

In environments with temperatures below 55 degrees Fahrenheit for 3000 hours or more annually. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is an advantage of using water-side economizers as opposed to air-side economizers?

They can reduce the intake of contaminants and changes of humidity into the datacenter. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which components are typically part of a cooling system that uses a water-side economizer?

A cooling tower, evaporative cooler and a dry cooler. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of on-demand cooling systems?

To provide temporary cooling when central air systems fail, or for supplemental use in data centers. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Unit 1 - Overview and Issues

Objective: To understand the concept of Green Computing, related issues (toxins, power consumption, heat), and the necessity of measuring carbon footprints. Also learn about expertise projects and ways to reduce issues.
Introduction: Green Computing (green IT) focuses on environmentally responsible use of computing resources. It emphasizes energy efficiency, proper electronic disposal, and reduction of resource use.
Problems: The need for going green in IT infrastructure is not top priority for organizations due to the costs.
Toxins: Hazardous substances like lead, mercury, cadmium, and PCBs are present in electronic waste (e-waste).
Power Consumption: Power usage in IT systems is a significant issue, both in terms of cost and environmental impact. Significant energy is consumed in data centers.
Heat: Heat generated from equipment and its cooling requirements also contribute to energy consumption.

Unit 2 - Current Initiatives and Standards

Objectives: To understand the StEP principles of global initiatives, task forces for e-waste management, functions and campaigns of BAN, decision-making of European Union and national adoption, and the steps taken by Asian countries for e-waste management.
Global Initiatives: The United Nations has implemented the Solving the E-waste Problem (StEP) program for organizations to solve e-waste issues.
Task Forces: Task forces focus on research, analysis, and facilitation of pilot projects, dealing with e-waste management and policy.
Basel Action Network (BAN): This organization actively works on several campaigns to combat toxic waste trade and promote sustainable practices.
European Union (EU): EU directives like WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) and RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) aim to address proper e-waste management.
National Adoption: Different countries have adopted varying versions of these directives, and this leads to different rules/regulations across regions. Examples given include:
- Austria
- Belgium
- Cyprus
- Estonia
- France
- Germany
- Greece, etc.
Asia: Countries like Japan, China, and Korea are seeking to minimize e-waste impact. Their specific approaches differ from other nations.
- Japan emphasizes reuse and recycling
- China is establishing legislation regarding e-waste
Basel Convention: This international treaty aims to reduce hazardous waste transportation, minimizing toxicity and generation.

Unit 3 - Minimizing Power Usage

Objectives: To learn the topic of minimizing power consumption in green computing, how to reduce electricity, and to learn the issue of power consumption/ offer recommendations for reducing it.
Power Problems: Power consumption is a significant problem in businesses, as it requires significant costs and environmental impact.
Monitoring Power Usage: Data centers use considerable amounts of electricity. Monitoring systems are important for identifying areas for improvement.
Low-Cost Options: Some examples include the 'Kill A Watt' device, to measure localized power consumption.
Data De-duplication: Reduced data duplication reduces the need to copy data continuously leading to less energy consumed.
Virtualization: Consolidating multiple servers into a single one via virtualization reduces the total power consumption and cooling needs.
Bigger Drives: Newer, higher-capacity storage devices often consume less power per gigabyte than older models.
Involving Utility Company: Contacting your utility company can provide insights about historic energy consumption and cost savings through power usage monitoring and management.
Sellback Opportunities: Some areas can sell excess energy to provide additional revenue and reduce their cost of electricity.

Unit 4 - Cooling

Objectives: To examine cooling issues in datacenters, causes of cooling cost, and tips to add cooling capacity.
Cooling Costs: Significant portion of costs are often related to maintaining cooling systems. This makes cost calculation a major factor.
Causes of Cooling Costs: Factors such as increased server density, heat buildup, and irregular heat load increase cooling needs and the resulting costs.
Calculating Cooling Needs: Determining the exact cooling requirements is crucial. A number of factors contribute, including size of the datacenter, number of equipment, number of occupants, etc.

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Description

This quiz covers the fundamentals of Green Computing, including its definition, importance, and the environmental issues associated with IT resources. You'll learn about toxins in e-waste, energy consumption in data centers, and strategies to mitigate these problems. Test your understanding of how responsible computing impacts both the environment and organizational practices.