Hgit 1 Topic PDF

Lead Is generally used in printed circuit boards and in glass monitors. The pathological Effects of lead are most prominent in the nervous system, hematopoietic system and Kidneys. Excessive exposure to lead (Pb) results in clinical toxicity. There has been Extensive research to find a replaceme...

Lead Is generally used in printed circuit boards and in glass monitors. The pathological Effects of lead are most prominent in the nervous system, hematopoietic system and Kidneys. Excessive exposure to lead (Pb) results in clinical toxicity. There has been Extensive research to find a replacement for lead (Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 2010). There are also on-going efforts to recover lead from the e-wast (Duffy, 2008). Cadmium is generally used in low-temperature soldering, plating for corrosion protection, colorants in plastics and contact buttons in relays (Penica and Hilty, 2004). Cadmium when ingested affects the liver and kidneys. Research is on-going to produce Alternatives for its various uses. Mercury Is mainly used in monitors and batteries. Mercury is a well-known pollutant (US Geological Survey, 2000), and it affects the immune system, alters genetic and Enzyme systems and damages the nervous system. New light-emitting diode (LED) Backlit technologies have been developed which make monitors mercury free. Mercury Use in batteries has also been reduced considerably over the past few years. PBDEs and PBBs Are used as flame retardants (Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, 2011). These materials are ubiquitous environmental pollutants; they areextremely toxic and are banned in many countries. Efforts are on-going to remove These materials from the manufacture of computers. Arsenic Is used in glasses and in manufacturing semiconductors. Arsenic interferes With cellular longevity by allosteric inhibition of an essential metabolic enzyme. Many Arsenic prevention and recovery methodologies have been devised, and these need to Be actively deployed to reduce arsenic usage in the manufacturing process. PVC Is one of the most commonly used plastics worldwide. It has been used extensively in the manufacture of computer parts. Vinyl chloride, one of the main ingredients Of PVC, is a carcinogen and also affects the human reproductive system (US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 2011). Of late, many companies have eliminated the Use of PVC in their devices. The EPA Web site gives further information on these and other toxic materials and how Each of these chemicals affects the environment. It is important that electronic device manufacturers avoid using these chemicals in their Devices and use environmentally friendly alternatives. Further, their facilities' carbon Footprint can be reduced by employing energy conservation techniques and by using Energy from renewable sources. Energy conservation techniques like sensors for switching Off lights automatically, and shutting down servers during weekends (where possible), not Only help reduce the carbon footprint but also result in lower energy bills. In addition, Environmentally sensitive materials like chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) should be avoided in Air conditioning and cooling facilities. Such measures also help companies in projecting A good public imagePoints Discusses how software (a virtual asset) can negatively impact the environment. Illustrates the importance of considering software's social and economic aspects. Examines current approaches to address environmental issues related to software. Introduces the notion of sustainable software development. Presents a methodology to measure the sustainability performance of software projects. Illustrates the application of the methodology with a real-world case study. 4.1 Introduction In recent years, green IT has gained attention across the IT industry, especially in organizations that maintain energy-intensive resources such as data centres. Although most of The focus has been on minimizing hardware's energy consumption and improving resource Utilization, very little attention is paid to the environmental impact of software. Software Is commonly regarded as neutral due to its virtual nature, but its indirect impact is in fact Real. The most obvious impact is the higher energy consumption caused by inefficient software, but other issues, such as increasing e-waste caused by existing computers becoming Obsolete due to software demands, are greatly ignored by software professionals. A recent study (Swann, 2010) estimates that almost 2.5 billion PCs will be rendered Obsolete by 2013 as they cannot support the higher resources demanded by software Upgrades or newer software. Though most of these computers are usable and in working Condition, software requirements effectively make them unusable. Further, only aboutand economic dimensions. 20% of these discarded computers will be properly disposed of and/or recycled, whilst The rest of the e-waste, which contains highly toxic materials, will be dumped in landfills (Krikke, 2008) thus polluting soil, water and air. Software also creates social issues besides its environment impact. For example, lack Of accessibility support (i.e. support for disabled persons) effectively excludes people From the workforce. In addition, ill-designed and hard-to-use software demands more Training and user support which might increase software's carbon footprint, particularly if It involves printing and distributing hardcopy of training materials and additional travel. E-waste also creates a social issue, since most of the dumped and highly toxic components Are shipped illegally to developing countries, where they are handled by untrained workers Without protective gears, effectively risking their lives and putting additional burden on The community. The terms green and sustainability are often used interchangeably, but there is a subtle Difference: Whilst green normally refers to environmental aspects, sustainability encompasses environmental, economic and social dimensions (Figure 4.1). These three dimensions are integrated and interrelated: Economic growth without addressing its environmental impact diminishes quality Of life. Environmental protection without considering local culture and traditions creates social Injustice. Social disruptions like riots and war jeopardize the environment and the economy. A healthy economy enables a better environment and social welfare. In advocating sustainable software, we include all three sustainability factors -- Environment, society and the economy -- and align them to the project's business goals. It is imperative to adopt a holistic approach, considering not only the environmental Aspects but also social and economic issues. 4.2 Current Practices Unlike other engineering disciplines such as environmental and civil engineering, currently There are no well-established standards or practices to effectively manage sustainability In software projects. In the context of software, most of the effort on software sustainability focuses on the maintenance of legacy systems, and they do not address software Sustainability in terms of environmental, social and economic aspects.