Podcast
Questions and Answers
What percentage of global greenhouse gas emissions does the digital sector contribute?
What percentage of global greenhouse gas emissions does the digital sector contribute?
The production of IT equipment has a minimal environmental impact.
The production of IT equipment has a minimal environmental impact.
False
What is the primary focus of Green IT?
What is the primary focus of Green IT?
Reducing the environmental footprint of IT equipment and infrastructure.
The production of an average smartphone requires approximately ______ kg of raw materials.
The production of an average smartphone requires approximately ______ kg of raw materials.
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Match the pillars of Sustainable IT with their main focus:
Match the pillars of Sustainable IT with their main focus:
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What is a significant environmental consequence of the ICT industry?
What is a significant environmental consequence of the ICT industry?
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Sustainable IT practices are considered optional for achieving a greener future.
Sustainable IT practices are considered optional for achieving a greener future.
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What are the main sources of energy used by the digital sector?
What are the main sources of energy used by the digital sector?
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How many different elements were used in smartphones in the 2000s?
How many different elements were used in smartphones in the 2000s?
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Recycling of electronic devices has become an easy challenge.
Recycling of electronic devices has become an easy challenge.
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What principle aims to minimize waste by reusing, repairing, and recycling materials?
What principle aims to minimize waste by reusing, repairing, and recycling materials?
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Video accounts for _____% of all online data flow.
Video accounts for _____% of all online data flow.
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Match the following laws with their descriptions:
Match the following laws with their descriptions:
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What is one of the main challenges when extracting elements for smartphones?
What is one of the main challenges when extracting elements for smartphones?
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Digital sobriety encourages excessive digital consumption.
Digital sobriety encourages excessive digital consumption.
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What is a key challenge contributing to e-waste?
What is a key challenge contributing to e-waste?
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The concept of _____ focuses on safeguarding data and protecting users from cyberattacks.
The concept of _____ focuses on safeguarding data and protecting users from cyberattacks.
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Which of the following is not a recommended practice for promoting Sustainable IT?
Which of the following is not a recommended practice for promoting Sustainable IT?
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The digital economy solely focuses on environmental sustainability.
The digital economy solely focuses on environmental sustainability.
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Name one action point to give devices a second life and minimize waste.
Name one action point to give devices a second life and minimize waste.
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The volume of data created, copied, and consumed grew to _____ Zetabytes in 2017.
The volume of data created, copied, and consumed grew to _____ Zetabytes in 2017.
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Which of these is a focus of digital well-being initiatives?
Which of these is a focus of digital well-being initiatives?
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Study Notes
Sustainable IT Introduction
- The digital sector is a major contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions, estimated at 5-10%.
- Sustainable IT practices are crucial for a greener future.
- Our current digital world has a substantial environmental impact.
Digital Sector's Footprint
- ICT uses significant energy, often from fossil fuels which produces GHG that contributes to climate change.
- ICT relies on metals and resources from mining which can create environmental damage.
- E-waste is an alarming issue, needing better disposal and recycling.
Four Pillars of Sustainable IT
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Green IT: Reduces the environmental impact of IT equipment and infrastructure.
- Focuses on energy-efficient designs, sustainable data centers, and renewable energy usage.
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IT for Green: Uses IT to reduce human activities' environmental impact.
- Focuses on technologies and applications for sustainable practices in sectors like agriculture, transportation, and energy.
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Human IT: Promotes ethical, accessible, and inclusive technology usage.
- Addresses data privacy, digital equity, and cybersecurity.
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IT for Human: Ensures technology serves people and communities.
- Emphasizes human-centered design, well-being, and addressing social challenges.
Impact of IT Equipment
- Production: The production phase is a major contributor to the environmental footprint of devices.
- Materials: Smartphones use ~200 kg of raw materials from extraction.
- Elements: The number of elements in phones expanded from ~12 in the 1980s to ~65 in the 2000s.
- Extraction: Extracting elements can damage the environment, for example, mining copper.
- Recycling: Device recycling is a critical but often inadequate challenge.
- Consumption & Life Cycles: Demand for devices is high and growing, leading to high e-waste and short lifespans.
- Limited Repairs: Limited repair options encourage disposal rather than repair.
Impact of IT Uses
- Data Growth: Data volume has increased fivefold since 2010, reaching 26 zettabytes in 2017.
- Data Centers: Increasing data requires more powerful data center infrastructure and higher energy consumption.
- Video Dominance: Video accounts for over 60% of online data usage, followed by pornography and other video content.
Towards Sustainable IT
- Circular Economy: Aims for minimizing waste by reusing, repairing, and recycling materials.
- Device Longevity: Extending device lifespan helps reduce the environmental impact.
- Digital Sobriety: Minimizes unnecessary digital consumption for more mindful use of technology.
Sustainable IT Actions
- Encourage recycling and refurbishment programs.
- Reduce unnecessary IT infrastructure, optimize cloud usage, and limit energy consumption.
Contradictory Injunctions
- Innovation and economic growth in the digital economy often conflict with environmental sustainability.
Social Impacts of IT
- Sustainable IT also considers social responsibility.
- Accessibility: Technology should be accessible for all, including people with disabilities.
- Inclusion: Promote digital inclusion for all, regardless of background.
- Cybersecurity: A secure digital environment protects data and users.
- Ethics: Implement ethical principles in designing and using technology.
- Well-being: Focus on promoting healthy relationships with technology.
Innovation and Obsolescence
- Moore's Law: Computing power doubles roughly every two years, leading to planned obsolescence.
- Wirth's Law: Software complexity increases faster than hardware capabilities.
- Programmed Obsolescence: Products with limited lifespans encourage frequent replacements.
Key Sustainable IT Best Practices
- Extend Device Lifespan: Care for devices to maximize their life.
- Buy Smart: Purchase refurbished or second-hand devices.
- Reduce Consumption: Turn off unused devices, and minimize unnecessary device use.
- Limit Video Use: Choose lower video definition and audio-only options.
- Manage Data: Avoid data saturation, use efficient transfer methods.
- Digital Well-being: Monitor screen time, take breaks, and be mindful of technology use.
Public Resources
- Belgian Institute for Sustainable IT (ISIT): Provides resources including calculators, guides, MOOCs, and tools to assess and support sustainable IT initiatives.
Conclusion
- Sustainable IT requires a collective effort from individuals, organizations, and governments to adopt eco-conscious practices.
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Description
Explore the essential practices of Sustainable IT and its role in reducing the digital sector's environmental footprint. Understand key concepts like Green IT, IT for Green, and the challenges of e-waste. This quiz will help you grasp the importance of sustainable practices in technology.
