| MIT Green Computing |
| An Examination of the Environmental Effects of Computers at MIT |
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Green Computing Initiatives The Central office would also be in charge of instituting “green” computing initiatives, making an effort to cut down on computer-related waste at MIT. We propose several areas in which the Central Office could change the current wasteful practices. Power-SavingThe computers and monitors purchased by MIT should be Energy-Star compliant. [2] When idle for a certain amount of time, hard drives should power down, monitors should power down, and the machine should go into low-power mode. Currently, the monitors on Athena workstations never go into a low-power mode, as they constantly display the Athena login screen. The following arguments could be raised (our responses included):
While these power-saving measures may seem insignificant on the level of an individual computer, they can have quite a cost and energy saving effect across campus. Furthermore, the statement that MIT computing is Energy-Star compliant would be a powerful one. Distributed ComputingDistributed computation has the capability to reduce computer purchases at MIT. The basic idea behind distributed computing is that the average personal computer has many unused cycles – timeslots in which information could be processed. Distributed systems put these unused cycles to work; they give preference to the local machine and certain processes, but use the extra cycles for other tasks. Current examples of such systems include: SETI@home, distributed.net, and United Devices. [2], [3], [4] Many departments at MIT need machines only for data processing, especially in areas like cryptography, graphics, and systems analysis. Distributed computing would allow them to non-obtrusively use the free cycles of machines around campus (other departments, Athena clusters, etc.) to process their data. This would clearly reduce the number of computers purchased by certain departments. End-Of-LifeWhat should be done when a computer has outlived its usefulness to a particular department or individual? MIT has several options for dealing with computers in this “end-of-life” stage. Reuse
Currently,
MIT has a reuse@mit.edu mailing list, to which people post notifications about
computers and other objects they have no further need for. The location of the objects is given and people
can pick them up on a first-come, first-serve basis. In this manner, computer reuse takes place
to a limited extent at MIT. However,
most often people pick up reuse items in the hallways only to
have them sit in a basement and then be thrown out in the trash.
We propose a change to the Reuse mailing list – a searchable online database of reusable computers at MIT. People could post computers wanted and computers being offered, and the chances of these machines going to waste would decrease. This change could be implemented immediately, without the institution of a Central Office. As mentioned earlier, the Central Office would also coordinate all computer reuse at MIT. Reuse does not necessarily mean transfer of assets from the school to some random member of the MIT community (as in the case of the reuse mailing list). The C.O. would revalue used machines and sell them to other departments or individuals that would find them useful. Also mentioned above, some of the computers could be revalued and sold or given to students seeking personal machines. Donation
Donation
of computers to certain organizations (charity, schools, libraries,
overseas programs) already takes place at MIT to a very limited
extent, but there is no formal system for donation.
The Central Office would be in charge of seeking organizations to donate all working machines that are no longer of use to anyone at MIT. The tax write-off would be a financial benefit to the school and the machines would be a educational benefit to the recipients. The following is a list of computer donation organizations: East West Education Development Foundation: TecsChange (Roxbury, MA): MindShare (Jamaica Plain, MA): Goodwill: Salvation Army: WasteCap of Massachusetts (Donation
Directory)
http://www.wastecap.org:8080/wastecap/commodities/computers/compdonations.htm Recycling
What if the machines are unable to be reused or donated? What if the machines are damaged beyond repair or so obsolete they are unusable anywhere? Recycling, not disposal, should stand as a last option. Currently, MIT disposes of computers and monitors through a disposal company in accordance with Massachusetts state law. Little or no recycling takes place, yet there are many organizations available that deal with the recycling of computer parts. The Central Office would be in charge of dealing with recycling all such end-of-life machines. Furthermore, they would institute a take-back program for all machines (student, personal) bought through the institute. The C.O. would also offer information for individuals in the MIT community who are interested in recycling computers and electronic parts. The following is a list of computer recycling companies and organizations: Summit Electronics Recycling (Boston, MA): MA DEP TV and Computer Recycling Information:
City of Cambridge Recycling Program: Waste Management & Recycling Products, Inc.:
WasteCap of Massachusetts (Recycling
Directory)
http://www.wastecap.org:8080/wastecap/rsd/electronics.htm References: [1] http://www.energystar.gov/ [2] http://setiathome.ssl.berkeley.edu/ [3] http://www.distributed.net/ [4] http://www.ud.com/home.htm |
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