Corporate Sustainability & Green Practices

1. Corporate Sustainability & Green Practices Morgan Midgett Kishore Jayakumar Susan Hannes Daniel In Pavan Yalamanchili

2. Introduction • As consumers are becoming more environmentally aware and energy costs are rising, businesses have to adapt environmentally-friendly practices to keep up with the changing times • Many business owners are afraid of the costs of switching to greener practices; however, small investments can reap large gains. Green practices can save money while keeping customers happy and helping the planet

3. Definition and Examples • Green computing is the study and practice of using computing resources efficiently. • According to Wikipedia, there are 4 steps to green computing: • Green use — reducing the energy consumption of computers and other information systems as well as using them in an environmentally sound manner • Green disposal — refurbishing and reusing old computers and properly recycling unwanted computers and other electronic equipment • Green design — designing energy-efficient and environmentally sound components, computers, servers, cooling equipment, and data centers • Green manufacturing — manufacturing electronic components, computers, and other associated subsystems with minimal impact on the environment

4. Examples Continued • turning off computers when not in use, or at least putting them in "sleep mode" • using energy efficient monitors and cooling systems • using firewalls, anti-virus and anti-spyware to reduce amount of eWaste • properly recycling old computers and unwanted computer equipment • printing on both sides of the paper

5. Background Information • In 1992, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency launched Energy Star, a voluntary label awarded to computing products that succeed in minimizing use of energy while maximizing efficiency • Resulted in the widespread adoption of sleep mode among consumer electronics • The Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) specification is an open standard for unified operating system-centric device configuration and power management. ACPI, first released in December 1996, defines platform-independent interfaces for hardware discovery, configuration, power management and monitoring. • Working, Sleep, Stand by, hibernate, shut down

6. Using Sleep Mode • The EPA has estimated that providing computers with “sleep mode” reduces their energy use by 60 to 70 percent – and ultimately could save enough electricity each year to power Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine, cut electric bills by $2 billion, and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by the equivalent of 5 million cars.

7. Why? • Businesses want to save money by conserving energy and materials • Due growing awareness and concern about global warming/climate change, there has been a societal shift towards more environmentally-sustainable practices, and in order to keep consumer support, businesses must adapt greener practices

8. Positive Aspects and Benefits • Reduces ecological footprint • Uses less energy • Reduces carbon emissions • Reuses and recycles materials (computer parts, paper/office supplies) • Educates people and raises awareness about eco-friendly practices • Energy-efficient building design • Saves businesses money • Uses less energy • Purchase less materials • Use less paper

9. Challenges • Sometimes, adapting to green practices may cost more money in the short-term • But it will save in the long-term • Businesses may be unwilling to change practices out of habit • People’s laziness and forgetfulness (turning off monitors, recycling) • General apathy about environment • Lack of awareness about environment

10. Opinion • It is a corporation’s responsibility to employ green practices when it comes to computing. • Even if there are financial costs in the short-term, the long-term environmental benefits outweigh them • Long-term economic impact • Resources will be gone if there is not enough conservation • The tragedy of the commons refers to a dilemma described in an influential article by that name written by Garrett Hardin and first published in the journal Science in 1968.The article describes a situation in which multiple individuals, acting independently, and solely and rationally consulting their own self-interest, will ultimately deplete a shared limited resource even when it is clear that it is not in anyone's long-term interest for this to happen.