English for Computer Engineering (S2)

Pr. H. BEDDARI Spring Session 2024-2025

Lesson Six: Green Computing

In pairs, discuss the following question

In what ways do you think technology and computers impact the environment, both
positively and negatively?

Green Computing, a contribution to save the environment

“Going Green” is a rising trend establishing itself as the preferred way of doing things
while saving the environment. This now appears in a large number of aspects in our lives, such
as recycling, energy-efficient devices, clean energy sources, eco-friendly vehicles, green
buildings.

Computing has also established its share to contribute to saving the environment under
the concept "Green Computing". Green computing is the environmentally responsible and eco-
friendly use of computers and their resources. In broader terms, it is also defined as the study
of designing, engineering, manufacturing, using and disposing of computing devices in a way
that reduces their environmental impact. Green Computing, also known as Green Technology
or Green IT, has quickly emerged as the most effective means of utilising technology.

How Green Computing benefits the environment?

In basic terms, Green Computing involves reducing the environmental impact of

technology. That means using less energy, reducing waste and promoting sustainability. Green
computing aims to reduce the carbon footprint generated by the Information Technology and
Systems business and related industries. Energy-efficiency and e-waste are two major
techniques involved in green computing. Energy efficiency involves implementation of energy-
efficient central processing units (CPUs), servers and peripherals as well as reduced resource
consumption. And e-waste is the proper disposal of electronic waste.

Why Green Computing?

If we think computers are non-polluting and consume very little energy, in fact the use
of computer plays a big role in environment pollution. It is estimated that out of $250 billion
per year spent on powering computers worldwide only about 15% of that power is spent
computing, the rest is wasted idling (i.e. consumed by computers which are not in use but still
turned ON). That consumed energy is the main reason of CO2 emission, thus, energy saved on
computer hardware and computing will equate tonnes of carbon emissions saved per year.

It started back in 1992, when the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
launched the Energy Star program, a controlled labelling program to promote and recognise
energy-efficiency. The Energy Star label has now certified more than 75 different product
categories, homes, commercial buildings and industrial plants. The program has also resulted
in the widespread adoption of sleep mode among electronics' consumers.

Following that, a large number of initiatives have been launched to promote Green
Computing by the governments, industry and environmental NGOs. The IT industry is putting
efforts in all its sectors to achieve Green Computing. Equipment recycling, reduction of paper
usage, virtualisation, cloud computing, power management, green manufacturing are the key
initiatives towards Green Computing.

Greening of technology has a potential role to play in enhancing environmental

sustainability by making the entire product life cycle of technologies and products greener,
including research, manufacturing, use and disposal. Green Computing has an optimistic future
for saving the environment with ample avenues for making it possible. Hope we move forward
with the goal of efficient computing while making the earth greener.

Source:https://www.perallis.com/blog/green-computing-a-contribution-to-save-the-
environment

1- Read the text again and decide if these sentences are true (T) or false (F). Correct
the false statements.
a) Green Computing is another name for Green Technology and Green IT. (True/False)
b) The main goal of Green Computing is to make computer systems more powerful and
fast. (True/False)
c) The Energy Star program promotes the use of energy-efficient products. (True/False)
d) Green Computing only focuses on the recycling of electronic devices. (True/False)
e) Virtualization and cloud computing are initiatives that support Green Computing.
(True/False)

2- Complete the following definitions using the words in the box.

Carbon footprint Energy Star Green Computing Sustainability E-waste

………………… The environmentally responsible use of computer resources.

……………….. The impact that an activity has on carbon emissions.

……………….. A label program recognizing energy-efficient devices.

 ………………. Environments where plants and animals naturally live and thrive.

……………….. Managing resources to meet current and future needs.

……………… Discarded electronic devices and equipment.

3- Fill in the blanks in the following passage with appropriate words from the text. Only
the first letter of each word is provided.

Green Computing involves the e_______________ responsible use of computer technology.

Key techniques in Green Computing include r_______________ waste and managing energy
consumption. Proper d____________ of e-waste helps minimize pollution. Recycling
electronic devices conserves valuable r_______________. Additionally,
i_______________like virtualization and cloud computing support Green Computing goals.

4- Complete the sentences by changing the form of the words in parentheses to create the
correct part of speech (noun, verb, or adjective).

a) The _____________ (implement) of energy-efficient CPUs is essential in Green

Computing.
b) Many organizations have ________________ (optimistic) adopted Green IT practices.
c) Recycling _____________ (discard) electronic devices is an important initiative.
d) Governments promote ____________ (sustainability) methods of electronic
manufacturing.
e) Many industries have _____________ (enthusiasm) embraced Green Computing
practices.
f) The ___________ (adopt) of cloud computing has reduced the need for physical data
centers.

5- Write a short paragraph (100-150 words) answering the following question:

Why do you think Green Computing is important for the future of our environment?
Describe at least two initiatives mentioned in the text and explain how they contribute to
environmental sustainability.

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6- My Glossary

Going Green A trend focused on adopting environmentally

friendly practices to reduce ecological impact.
Green Computing The environmentally responsible use of
computers and related resources, emphasizing
energy efficiency and minimal environmental
impact throughout the product lifecycle

E-waste Electronic waste that includes discarded

electrical or electronic devices, which can be
harmful to the environment if not disposed of
properly

Central Processing Unit (CPU) The primary component of a computer that

performs most of the processing inside a
computer, crucial for energy-efficient computing.
Cloud Computing The delivery of computing services over the
internet, allowing for scalable resources that can
reduce physical hardware needs and associated
energy use.
Sleep Mode A low-power state that computers and other
devices enter when not in active use, helping to
conserve energy.
Sustainability The ability to maintain ecological balance by
avoiding depletion of natural resources and
minimizing environmental impact through
responsible practices.

7- Complete the Following Sentences with the Correct Word from the glossary

a) Many companies are _____________ by using less paper and recycling more materials.
b) ___________________ helps to save energy and reduce waste in our technology use.
c) It is important to recycle ______, like old computers and phones, to protect the
environment.
d) The ______________________ is the brain of the computer, and it helps run all the
programs.
e) __________ allows people to store their files online, so they can access them from
anywhere.
f) When you are not using your laptop, you can put it in ______________ to save battery
power.
g) _______________ means using resources in a way that does not harm the environment
for future generations..