Green Computing: Principles, Benefits, and Environmental Impact

Introduction

Green computing is a term used to refer to the proper handling and disposal of computer parts. It is a concept that has emerged in recent years alongside the growing need to maintain a clean environment free from unnecessary pollution. It is a well-known fact that computers are made largely of non-biodegradable materials, primarily plastics. The disposal of used computers can cause significant environmental degradation if not handled properly. Because these materials do not decompose, they accumulate and pollute the environment. Another reason green computing practices are pursued is that they promote better utilization of resources through recycling, helping to conserve natural resources while reducing waste.

Rationale Behind Green Computing

Green computing practices are motivated by a desire to conserve a planet now under the threat of global warming. They are also driven by the rapid increase in computer usage worldwide. Virtually every department in every workplace uses computers, which has resulted in a large volume of used machines entering the waste stream (Murugesan & Gangadharan, 2012). Initially, when computers were first introduced, disposal was not a significant problem because relatively few were in use. However, as adoption has grown, so too has the challenge of managing discarded hardware.

A further concern is that computers are made primarily of plastics and metals, none of which are biodegradable. Their presence in the environment creates a negative externality, placing unnecessary strain on ecosystems as non-decomposable material accumulates (Harris, 2008). Scientists explain that large quantities of non-biodegradable material on the ground contribute to global warming, which is currently one of the world's most serious problems. The mobile phone industry has also contributed to the growth of electronic waste. Used phones are now a globally common phenomenon. In response to this reality and the ongoing crisis of global warming, a worldwide campaign has emerged to reduce the use of non-biodegradable materials and to ensure their proper disposal where reduction is not possible.

Global Warming and Electronic Waste

Global warming describes the general rise in world temperatures currently being witnessed across the globe. It is named for its similarity to the greenhouse effect, in which gases accumulate in the atmosphere and trap heat radiated from the earth's surface, preventing it from escaping into space. One of the chief causes is the removal of trees, which normally help balance carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide produced by the respiration of all animals accumulates in the atmosphere, thickening the gaseous blanket until it traps heat emitted by objects on the earth's surface (Smith, 2013).

Computer parts left after use form part of the body of objects that absorb solar heat during the day and emit it at night. The greater the number of such objects, the larger the surface area available for heat absorption and the greater the total heat subsequently emitted to the atmosphere. Managing global warming therefore requires both increasing global forest cover and reducing the number of objects that contribute to environmental damage. Physics principles also suggest that the color of an object affects the quantity of heat it emits; black objects, for instance, emit more heat than objects of any other color. Since most computers and computer accessories are made of black or dark materials, they contribute substantially to atmospheric heat emissions. Mobile phone accessories share this characteristic (Murugesan & Gangadharan, 2012).

The severity of global warming depends on several factors. One is the volume of gases emitted to the atmosphere: the greater the quantity, the more heat is trapped and the more serious global warming becomes. The other key factor is the surface area available for heat absorption and emission on the earth's surface. The number of objects present and their material composition determine the size of this absorbing and emitting surface. Black surfaces absorb and emit more heat than any other type. Computers and mobile phone accessories, being made predominantly of dark materials, therefore qualify as significant contributors to global warming. It is on this principle that the movement for green computing was conceived — built on the premise that a sound environment requires the restoration, conservation, and improvement of the conditions in which people live (Harris, 2008).

Conclusion

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