Greening Through IT

8/10/2019 Greening Through IT

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Greening through ITA Synopsis in Words and Images

Daniel Powell


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The Core Argument Humans are facing significant environmental issues that

occur over long time scales, large distances, and great

degrees of complexity.

Unassisted, humans are not well equipped to deal withproblems on these scales of time, space, and complexity.

Throughout history, technological innovations have enabled

human cultures to deal with broader suites of problems than

we would otherwise be able to address.

IT specifically involves tools and techniques for dealing withvast bodies of information across wide ranges of time, space,

and complexity, and is thus well suited for addressing

environmental concerns.


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Scope

source
http://lostinthevalley.wordpress.com/2011/05/07/missing-the-forest-for-the-trees/http://lostinthevalley.wordpress.com/2011/05/07/missing-the-forest-for-the-trees/


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Distance

As of 1991, in the forty-eight states of the continental United

States, there was no location more than twenty-one miles from

a road. (Foreman, in Greening through IT, 33)


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Density and Complexity

Portland, Oregon


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Portland Metropolitan Government
http://www.oregonmetro.gov/index.cfm/go/by.web/id=277http://www.oregonmetro.gov/index.cfm/go/by.web/id=277


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Project 2060, MYFWC report source
http://www.1000fof.org/planning/2060.asphttp://myfwc.com/media/129053/FWC2060.pdfhttp://skyjax.net/http://skyjax.net/http://myfwc.com/media/129053/FWC2060.pdfhttp://www.1000fof.org/planning/2060.asp


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Human Horizons
http://www.autocarsreview.com/bmw-build-electric-car-factory.htmlhttp://www.autocarsreview.com/bmw-build-electric-car-factory.htmlhttp://www.bmwmass.com/http://www.bmwmass.com/http://www.google.com/imgres?q=snake&hl=en&biw=1152&bih=695&tbm=isch&tbnid=O3fjU__m8yTV5M:&imgrefurl=http://flatrock.org.nz/topics/animals/snakes_in_art.htm&docid=hqepC4sT-BFdrM&imgurl=http://flatrock.org.nz/static/frontpage/assets/animals/snake_bite.jpg&w=500&h=358&ei=04prUPmBM4uu8AS7pYCICw&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=109&sig=111249037542765121647&page=1&tbnh=150&tbnw=207&start=0&ndsp=15&ved=1t:429,r:8,s:0,i:174&tx=69&ty=60http://www.google.com/imgres?q=snake&hl=en&biw=1152&bih=695&tbm=isch&tbnid=O3fjU__m8yTV5M:&imgrefurl=http://flatrock.org.nz/topics/animals/snakes_in_art.htm&docid=hqepC4sT-BFdrM&imgurl=http://flatrock.org.nz/static/frontpage/assets/animals/snake_bite.jpg&w=500&h=358&ei=04prUPmBM4uu8AS7pYCICw&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=109&sig=111249037542765121647&page=1&tbnh=150&tbnw=207&start=0&ndsp=15&ved=1t:429,r:8,s:0,i:174&tx=69&ty=60http://www.bukisa.com/articles/61755_30-most-colorful-and-prettiest-pet-birds-in-the-worldhttp://www.bukisa.com/articles/61755_30-most-colorful-and-prettiest-pet-birds-in-the-world


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Role of Technology Technology often feels strongly valenced (i.e., polarized

along a good-bad axis) (Tomlinson 65).

Technology as a whole is only as good or bad as humanity

itself (Tomlinson 66).

Same goals, different technologies; same technologies,

different goals.

Extending usable life; eliminating obsolescence.

Power consumption is an issue. ICT is responsible for up to 2.5%

of global carbon emissions (Tomlinson 71).

Electronic waste.

Scarce and nonrenewable resources (lead, mercury, cadmium).


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Same Technology, Different GoalsSometimes these side effects are good, such as when an innovationcalled the Internet, intended to facilitate research and maintain the

military chain of command during a nuclear war, allows me to have

movies streamed to my computer. At other times, they are less good,

such as when the chemical DDT, intended to increase agricultural

productivity, accidentally poisons large portions of the global

ecosystem. (Tomlinson 69)

streaming movies uses electricity and keeps me from going out of

the house, while DDT helped reduce malaria among soldiers in World

War II (Tomlinson 69).


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Technologies That Last LongerTechnology is a locus for rapid change in functionality, whichoften carries with it rapid change in hardware as well

(Tomlinson 82).

source
http://decommissioneddownstream.net/what_is_ewaste.htmlhttp://ban.org/BANreports/10-24-05/index.htmhttp://ban.org/BANreports/10-24-05/index.htmhttp://decommissioneddownstream.net/what_is_ewaste.html


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Creating Meaningful StandardsAside from emissions associated with deforestation, thelargest contribution to man-made CHG emissions comes from

power generation and fuel for transportation (Smart 20209).

Of the total emissions from human activity in 2002, 24% wasfrom the power sector, 23% from, industry, 17% from

agriculture and waste management, 14% from land use, 14%

from transport and 8% from buildings (Smart 2020 14).

These two sentences use different categories, and appear to

present different orderings of the key contributors to global

emissions (Tomlinson 79).
http://www.smart2020.org/publications/http://www.smart2020.org/publications/


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Creating Meaningful StandardsKyoto Protocol (1997 and 2005)

History and participation

Failures and outcomes

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC 2007B)

IPCC and the Nobel Prize
http://unfccc.int/kyoto_protocol/items/2830.phphttp://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sci/tech/4269921.stmhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sci/tech/4269921.stmhttp://www.atmos.washington.edu/2009Q1/111/ATMS111%20Presentations/Folder%201/ChavezM.pdfhttp://www.atmos.washington.edu/2009Q1/111/ATMS111%20Presentations/Folder%201/ChavezM.pdfhttp://www.ipcc.ch/publications_and_data/publications_and_data_reports.shtmlhttp://www.ipcc.ch/publications_and_data/publications_and_data_reports.shtmlhttp://www.ipcc.ch/publications_and_data/publications_and_data_reports.shtmlhttp://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/2007/gore-lecture_en.htmlhttp://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/2007/gore-lecture_en.htmlhttp://www.ipcc.ch/publications_and_data/publications_and_data_reports.shtmlhttp://www.atmos.washington.edu/2009Q1/111/ATMS111%20Presentations/Folder%201/ChavezM.pdfhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sci/tech/4269921.stmhttp://unfccc.int/kyoto_protocol/items/2830.php


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The Google Conundrum

How much carbon dioxide is produced by a single Google

search? Jonathan Leake and Richard Woods reported in

2009 that a search produces 7 grams of CO2 (about half theamount needed to heat a pot of tea), with Google rebutting

that figure with its own estimate of .2 grams of CO2

(Tomlinson 71).

Google has made some changes in its business model,

locating many of its server farms in Oregon, along theColumbia River. They save money on the cost of electricity,

and they take advantage of smarter energy grids.
http://blog.seattlepi.com/secretingredients/2009/01/12/a-couple-of-google-searches-or-making-a-cup-of-tea-can-both-harm-the-environment/http://spectrum.ieee.org/green-tech/buildings/tech-titans-building-boomhttp://spectrum.ieee.org/green-tech/buildings/tech-titans-building-boomhttp://www.wired.com/wired/archive/14.10/cloudware.htmlhttp://www.wired.com/wired/archive/14.10/cloudware.htmlhttp://spectrum.ieee.org/green-tech/buildings/tech-titans-building-boomhttp://blog.seattlepi.com/secretingredients/2009/01/12/a-couple-of-google-searches-or-making-a-cup-of-tea-can-both-harm-the-environment/


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Green IT and EducationUNESCO Education for Sustainable Development

GLOBE

Environmental Preservation Lecture Series

Creating Standards through the U.S. National Research

Council

Education in practice through EcoRaft
http://www.unesco.org/new/en/education/themes/leading-the-international-agenda/education-for-sustainable-development/http://www.globe.gov/http://jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/100307/met_204820640.shtmlhttp://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=4962http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=4962http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=4962http://www.ics.uci.edu/~wmt/ecoRaft/who.htmlhttp://www.ics.uci.edu/~wmt/ecoRaft/who.htmlhttp://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=4962http://jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/100307/met_204820640.shtmlhttp://www.globe.gov/http://www.unesco.org/new/en/education/themes/leading-the-international-agenda/education-for-sustainable-development/


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Development and Architecture
http://inhabitat.com/ziggurat-dubai-carbon-neutral-pyramid-will-house-1-million/http://inhabitat.com/ziggurat-dubai-carbon-neutral-pyramid-will-house-1-million/


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Development and Architecture
http://www.rmi.org/Vision%20and%20Missionhttp://www.rmi.org/Vision%20and%20Missionhttp://oilendgame.com/ThePublisher.htmlhttp://oilendgame.com/ThePublisher.html


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Alternative Energies

How effective has windpower become?
http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/08/wind_power_makes_gains_in_oreg.htmlhttp://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/08/wind_power_makes_gains_in_oreg.htmlhttp://cruises.about.com/od/columbiaandsnakerivers/ig/Columbia-Gorge-near-The-Dalles/Windmills-Columbia-River-Gorge.htmhttp://cruises.about.com/od/columbiaandsnakerivers/ig/Columbia-Gorge-near-The-Dalles/Windmills-Columbia-River-Gorge.htmhttp://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2012/09/off_the_coast_of_oregon_a_test.htmlhttp://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2012/09/off_the_coast_of_oregon_a_test.html


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Green IT and Personal ChangePledgeBank, Trackulous, and Greenscanner
http://www.pledgebank.com/http://www.trackulous.com/http://www.greenscanner.net/http://www.greenscanner.net/http://www.trackulous.com/http://www.pledgebank.com/

Documents

Greening Through IT