''' O'' TRADING IN GREEN IT ! : !
WHITHER THY GREEN PASTURES? '''
OVER a decade, research by some leading scientists and organisations, has focused entirely on:
Server-efficiency legislation and regulation, the emergence of power as the dominant operational expenditure in data centers, and the evolution of advanced technologies:
That will help alleviate power-efficiency problems. However, the measure of progress hasn't yet been achieved both in the US and Europe : a carbob cap-and-trade system as called for by:
' 1997 Kyoto Protocol '.
So, I think, time enough to pick the baseline of this very important consideration and work up a module on !WOW! -the World Students Society Computers-Internet-Wireless.
Cap and Trade
For those unfamiliar with the system, it works as follows. Governments apportion a set amount of CO2 or a cap on emissions for a given region. Carbon producers such as utilities that generate power or large companies:
That consume lots of power receive CO2 allocations or carbon credits from this apportioned pool. Penalties, typically in the form of fines, can be levied against companies that exceed their allocations.
Although the total apportionment of carbon credits is fixed for a given period, companies can trade credits or offsets with one another. If one company uses less than its allocations-
And another is in the danger of exceeding its allocation, the two companies can agree to a price exchange for the unused carbon credits.
In Europe such trading resulted in a commodities market where carbon credits are traded openly. In theory over time, the governments will reduce the cap-
On CO2 allocations for a particular region thereby reducing carbon emissions and hopefully curbing global warming.
In practice, Europe is still working out the kinks in the system, and caps and market prices have been somewhat volatile.
Notwithstanding opposition by many businesses and lawmakers to the Kyoto accords, most observers believe the US will eventually adopt a similar-cap-and-trade system resulting in a commodities market for CO2 and other pollutants.
In 2006, many experts thought that emerging technologies would make it possible to track and reduce IT energy consumption, savings that converted to carbon credits.
Recalling this conversation recently, I wondered how green technologies can contribute to an effective cap-and-trade system. One also wonders about the implications for a company with lots of PCs or servers.
How much energy must each system save, and how many systems contribute to a carbon credit worth of savings?
The Politics Of Power
Frankly, all indications were that the Obama administration would put a cap-and-trade system in place in the US early in its first term.
This has't happened for many reasons, including the controversy over the system's projected costs, the continued global economic crisis-
Wrangling over healthcare reforms, and rising public scepticism about global warming.
Moreover, as was evident at the chaotic UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in December 2009, many countries -notably including the world's largest polluters:
Resist implementing a legally binding cap-and-trade agreement.
However, the current administration insists that CO2 caps are necessary and the fate of cap trade in the US is not necessarily tied to Kyoto or Copenhagen. In addition, the growing adoption of cap and trade in Europe-
And its increasing stability as a commodity market suggest the process is workable. And Europe isn't alone, as countries including Australia and New Zealand are experiencing with carbon markets.
Unfortunately, a cap-and-trade system is necessary but not sufficient for green IT to play a significant role.
The IT industry still must agree on how to capture, measure, and analyze power efficiency and energy reduction.
Efforts like the SPECpower benchmarks and the US Department of Energy's Energy Star Program are steps in the right direction.
Once metrics are established, regulators will have to agree that such techniques can be used to track a company's efforts to reduce its carbon footprint.
Some progress is being made as companies that track carbon, including clear standards and Greenstone Carbon Management, gain market traction.
The honour and serving of this post continues!
With respectful dedication to the Students, Professors and Teachers of technology in the world. See Ya all on !WOW! -the World Students Society Computers-Internet-Wireless:
''' For The Future Generations '''
At the host's, respectful dedication to Engineer Imran Basit and Engineer Shahid Shakoor, Dr Imran Bukhari. Time to step forward and serve the Green IT.
Good Night & God Bless!
SAM Daily Times - the Voice of the Voiceless
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