Green computing is a movement to apply higher environmental standards to the manufacture, use, and disposal of computer technology. Examples include computers with advanced power management systems, computers made to run on alternative energy sources, and computers made without any environmentally-dangerous materials. Green computing is also a way of using computers that takes their energy consumption into account, and it can involve placing some of the responsibility for the carbon emissions of a computer on the consumer.
In some cases, green computing can apply strictly to the manufacturing process used to create a computer. Some companies take special measures to ensure that their manufacturing process doesn’t pollute the environment. Other companies find ways to offset any future energy use involving their computer components. There are special companies that allow individuals and other corporations to pay carbon offset fees, and then they generally put that money towards environmentally-friendly activities to make up for the carbon emissions. Some green computing companies take advantage of these services, and they may even use their green status as part of an advertising campaign.
One of the main ways that companies apply concepts of green computing is in the area of power efficiency. Many computer systems are designed so that components will shut themselves down to reduce energy consumption when they aren't being used. Another approach is to simply design components that get the same job done while using less power.
As a general rule, smaller computers require less energy to run, and this has been one of the reasons some consumers have adopted smaller hardware. For example, a desktop computer will generally require more power over the course of its lifetime than a laptop or notebook. The smaller computers are often weaker in terms of computing power, but this difference can be relatively insignificant for the purposes of most basic computer activity. In some cases, a consumer can apply the ideas of green computing by simply choosing to use a notebook or laptop as a primary system.
In the business world, some corporate leaders are embracing the idea of green computing purely for financial reasons. This is generally focused on reducing the company’s energy bills, and there may not be any environmentally-conscious thinking involved in the decision. These companies often have strict requirements about the activities of employees, asking them to reduce their power consumption while on the job through turning devices off at certain times and other measures.