Information Society Watch

May 8, 2008, Stephen Hoare, The Guardian

This report from Education Guardian looks at the findings of a forthcoming study that aims at informing colleges and universities in United Kingdom on ways to make computing environment friendly. The report illustrates several instances of using techniques such as grid computing and virtualisation to avoid wasteful IT practices, thereby reducing carbon footprint. Grid computing can break up a complex research project into lots of little tasks that will run on people's home computers. Virtualisation helps bring several applications onto one server, reducing energy consumption for IT, power and cooling. In the months after the publication of the study several campaigns are planned across the country, with special focus on the education sector, to spread awareness on sustainable IT practices.

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