Green IT

Do you turn off your computer at night?

As in IT consultant, I am sure you were asked this question many times “Should I turn my computer off at night or when I am not suing it or should I leave it on?”

I think the world is divided on this issue, some tech would tell you to turn if off and other would say, including myself, if you are a heavy computer user, never turn it off.

Turning the computer on and off each time would wear out its components, just like a car, if you turn it off each time you stop at the red light, you would harm the engine and other components.

But now, there is the issue of reducing energy use and green IT, is it better to turn off the computer when is not in use, or is it better to put it on standby mood or sleep mood? What would consume less energy? And if we have hundreds of computers, how much energy we would save verses how much tear and wear these computers would suffer for each start up procedure?

I don’t know the right answer, but I leave my laptop on most of the time, I still believe that power on procedure or start up takes a lot of energy to complete.

Go Green …Save the environment….spot new trends..Part 2

I am not sure how large corporations contributing to “Go Green” movement. I know almost all credit cards and other utilities companies in the US offer electronic statements and billing, but they still use papers in many other areas. Few months back, I had an issue with one of my credit cards companies and in order for them to investigate the matter; they faxed me about 18 pages of paper work to read and then sign. I really thought they could have done a better job communicating via e-mail and phone, 18 pages of paper seemed a lot to me, most of it were instructions.

I am not sure which company or country is number one on the “Go Green” list, but I know there are lots of efforts been taking be American companies to be reduce waste.

Currently I am in India, and as I go around I see so much use of papers everywhere. At one hotel where I was staying, I asked the manager who was busy filling guests information in a very large record keeping book while his assistance was entering the same information in a computerized database, “why do you have to keep some much paper work?” and he said so we can keep a permanent record. I told myself “that why we have electronic databases and database backups.”

The manager in the above example may need to be told that keeping his records in an electronic only format not only a safer and more secure method of securing his data, but it will save him space and money.
In these two articles on “ Go green”, I was trying to talk about very simple steps that anyone can take to help in reducing waste, I didn’t want to get into complex environmental issues related to the climate change etc. Just simple tips that the average person can use.

Go Green …Save the environment….spot new trends

I am not an environmentalist, but to live in clean and safe environment and to preserve our national resources it concerns me too. Everyday while driving on the streets of the country where I happen to be, I look around and just wonder how careless people can be about their environment. Of course I can not tell everyone I see on the street to be clean and to preserve the national resources, but as a manager, I can talk to my employees about the importance of preserving our resources and create work place policy where resource are used in the most efficient way.

As a manager in today’s work place, one of the first things I notice whenever I walk into a new office is how their resources are being used. Reducing costs while keeping quality is sometimes a delicate balance to maintain, but with little practice, you can maintain both.

Few tips you can use almost immediately:
1- Reduce the use of paper cups, ask each employee to bring her/his own drinking cup.
2- Most new printers come with a tool to help you lower ink consumption, check your printer’s manual.
3- If you work in an office with many computer systems, set the power saving mood on on those computers.
4- Encourage all your employees and clients to use e-mails instead of fax and letters, unless is absolutely necessary.
5- Where applicable, setup offices where there is enough sun light coming through the windows, so you don’t have to turn on the lights during day time.
6- Get into the habit of using ceiling fans or even small desk fans and reduce the use of air conditioning.
7- For taking notes, use your computer note pad program instead of paper note pad.

These are few tips you can use with little efforts. Adapting new ways to keep your work place environment friendly is not only helping all of us save resources, but it will also be the skills future managers must possess.