User:Peter Campbell/Green computing links

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These are recent links on Green computing (from Delicious) that I have bookmarked:

NorhTec - Products: The Gecko EduBook is an upgradeable, low power, portable and cost effective laptop. Unlike most inexpensive laptops (often called net books), the Gecko EduBook is designed for tough, long service.

The Gecko EduBook does not have a fan. The Xcore86 CPU used in the Gecko EduBook is more energy efficient than any other x86 CPU running at 1Ghz. It can support Microsoft Windows XP. The Xcore86 only uses 1.2 watts of power. While the Gecko EduBook costs less than most every other x86 compatible laptop, the Gecko Edubook features a large, bright LED backlit 8.9 inch screen with a resolution of 1024 x 600. [?]
AIIA - Australian Information Industry Association: As a result, Australia's most comprehensive and current industry resource on GreenIT has been developed. It reflects a commitment from AIIA and the Australian Technology industry to engage closely with the business community on the transformational role of ICT - working together we can fashion a low carbon economy. Recognising the need to inform Australian organisations about GreenIT practices, the vision for the Greening Your Business through Technology eBook was conceived by AIIAâs Sustainability Team, who liaised with Multimedia Victoria to commission this study.

As a result, Australia's most comprehensive and current industry resource on GreenIT has been developed. It reflects a commitment from AIIA and the Australian Technology industry to engage closely with the business community on the transformational role of ICT - working together we can fashion a low carbon economy. [?]
Google's green efforts increasingly homegrown | Green Tech - CNET News: Failing to find many investment opportunities, Internet search giant Google has begun developing its own green technology and may soon have some breakthroughs.
That's according to Bill Weihl, Google's green-energy czar, who spoke at the Reuters Global Climate and Alternative Energy Summit that began on Tuesday.
In November 2007, Google announced a plan to invest hundreds of millions in technology to find a renewable-energy source for electricity cheaper than coal. Since then, the company has admittedly invested "less than $50 million." [?]
$35 waste tax to keep old TVs out of landfill | smh.com.au: AUSTRALIANS face a new tax on electronic goods such as televisions and computers next year - in return for guarantees the electronic waste will not be dumped in landfill or shipped overseas. The Federal Government is also considering a national scheme for refunds on bottles and cans and will hold public consultations. But the national plan to ban plastic bags, which the Environment Minister, Peter Garrett, had backed unequivocally in the past, appears to have been dropped. [?]
Google uncloaks once-secret server | Business Tech - CNET News: Google's big surprise: each server has its own 12-volt battery to supply power if there's a problem with the main source of electricity. The company also revealed for the first time that since 2005, its data centers have been composed of standard shipping containers--each with 1,160 servers and a power consumption that can reach 250 kilowatts. [?]
Lenovoâs Release Latest Green PC: The M58p Eco Ultra Small Â»Â» MetaEfficient Reviews: Iâve been testing a new, very efficient PC called the ThinkCentre M58p Eco Ultra Small by Lenovo. This compact PC is the successor to the ThinkCentre M57p Eco. The quiet-running M58p consumes only about 58 watts of power at peak usage. It has a power supply that is 85% efficient when converting AC to DC power (15% escapes as heat). [?]
TG Daily - Apple updates Mac mini, should you buy it?: Cupertino (CA) - While many Apple commentators have been spelling doom for Apple's unique miniature Mac desktop, citing outdated technology that hasn't been updated in 20 months, Apple today proved that it indeed knows how to make a $600 computer that isn't a piece of junk. [?]
Extra storage as students go Gmail | Australian IT: GOOGLE has edged out some of the biggest brands in the enterprise IT services market to pick up another major contract win in Australia's education sector.

Google partner SMS Management and Technology has emerged as the leading bidder to supply the NSW Department of Education with 1.5 million student email services using a customised version of the search giant's Gmail service, Acting NSW Minister for Education and Training John Hatzistergos said.

"This commitment is a further demonstration of the NSW Labor Government's commitment to equip teachers and students with the best possible means to compete successfully in the constantly evolving world of information technology," he said. [?]
'Log on anywhere' system on trial | Australian IT: THE Australian Bureau of Statistics is piloting a USB key that allows staff to securely log on to its network from anywhere.

It is running the project in parallel with a pilot of thin-client desktop computers.

The bureau has been able to test the new technologies by using its VMware virtualisation software, which supports 95 per cent of the department's applications and servers.

About 100 USB keys, which use VMware's ACE technology, have been handed out to bureau staff, including the head of the department. [?]
Home, sweet green home - Perspectives - Opinion - Technology - theage.com.au: There are several easy ways to reduce your home's digital footprint, and save money while you're at it.

My recent column on energy consumption in the IT industry raised a lot of interest. I said that this year might be the year of green IT - the year corporate computer users become aware not only of the energy consumption of their IT function, but of the important role IT has to play in reducing the carbon footprint of the whole organisation [?]
Intel Testing Solar Power for Data Centers Â« Data Center Knowledge: Intel has installed solar panels at a facility in Rio Rancho, New Mexico to test the potential for using photovoltaic (PV) solar energy to provide power for data centers. The array of 64 Sharp solar panels will generate 10 kilowatts of electricity, just a fraction of the amount needed to power most data centers. [?]
Government taskforce calls for greener home PCs - Business - iTnews Australia: US - A UK government taskforce has been created to tackle carbon emissions from home computers.
An estimated 35 million tonnes of CO2 is generated from the production, operation and disposal of PCs and their peripherals each year. [?]
E-waste problem at 'crisis point' - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation): Conservationists are warning Australia's electronic waste problem has reached crisis point.

A study by the Total Environment Centre has found there are more than 123 million electronic waste (e-waste) items in Australian landfill sites. [?]
Web 2.0 Summit now courting clean-tech start-ups | Green Tech - CNET News: "In an era of looming scarcities, economic disruption, and the possibility of catastrophic ecological change, it's time for us all to wake up, to take our new 'superpowers' seriously, and to use them to solve problems that really matter," O'Reilly wrote. For its Launchpad event, the conference organizers are looking for start-ups in alternative energies, social entreprenuerialism, microfinance, developing economies, political action, and renewable technologies. Crossover with the Web is a bonus, but not a requirement, O'Reilly said. [?]
LessWatts.org - Saving Power on Intel systems with Linux: PowerTOP

Computer programs can make your computer use more power. PowerTOP is a Linux tool that helps you find those programs that are misbehaving while your computer is idle. The application that misbehaved the most was the Linux kernel. However, as of version 2.6.21, the Linux kernel went tickless, and no longer has a fixed 1000Hz timer tick. The result (in theory) is huge power savings because the CPU stays in low power mode for longer periods during system idle. [?]