Edition-1
Industry’s most hated minister, Jairam Ramesh, whom his critics cite as the biggest treat to India’s GDP growth, stuck to his guns at the India Today Conclave.
Ever since he stepped into Paryavaran Bhawan in May 2009, Ramesh, Minister of State for Environment & Forests, has halted industrial projects at the rate of one a day, including many for clearances had been given as far as in 2006.
Addressing a session on “The way to a Green GDP”, Ramesh said there are fore concerns that had led him to his position on the tradeoff between growth & environment: livelihoods, public health, climate change & sustainability.
The MIT educated minister said that he was set in motion a process that will, by 2015, enable India to report a green GDP. Some evidence from World Bank report, “Changing Wealth of Nations” and a Cambridge university study suggest a substantial gap between GDP growth & real well-being measured by GDP adjusted for conservation of ecology & environment, he pointed out.
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Monday, April 11, 2011
IT CAN BE MADE LESS DAMAGING TO THE ENVIRONMENT
Last Edition
At the back end, our rising appetite has led to more servers and more data centers. In fact, better use of IT can lead to, gains in energy efficiency. Data centers can be better managed along with being better located. Why should a data center be located in a concrete block in Navi-Mumbai, when it could be located at a much cooler Panchgani? Do people really care where their data is stored as they can access it whenever and wherever they want?
Moreover, each one of us can do his bit. This does not mean fewer videos on You Tube or shorter chats on cell phones. It means buying more environment-friendly hardware & better power management (switching off power or putting gadgets in sleep mode). It also means instead of long speeches at environment summits, the IT industry should become a leader in alternative energy solution.
At the back end, our rising appetite has led to more servers and more data centers. In fact, better use of IT can lead to, gains in energy efficiency. Data centers can be better managed along with being better located. Why should a data center be located in a concrete block in Navi-Mumbai, when it could be located at a much cooler Panchgani? Do people really care where their data is stored as they can access it whenever and wherever they want?
Moreover, each one of us can do his bit. This does not mean fewer videos on You Tube or shorter chats on cell phones. It means buying more environment-friendly hardware & better power management (switching off power or putting gadgets in sleep mode). It also means instead of long speeches at environment summits, the IT industry should become a leader in alternative energy solution.
Saturday, April 9, 2011
IT CAN BE MADE LESS DAMAGING TO THE ENVIRONMENT
Edition-2
So what is the solution? Patel says better connectivity means data centers do not need to be in cities, and thanks to technology, could be managed by very few people. Therefore, very few people could manage them. Therefore, they could be located near dairy farms not a revolutionary technology in India, where village people still use Cowdung cakes as domestic fuel. Patel says Cowdung can be processed in inexpensive digesters to produce methane, which can be burned to create power.
In addition, for the matter what about solar technology? India’s tryst with solar energy has been a start-stop affair so far. At least the mobile communication industry can take the lead here. Mobile towers can easily have solar cells mounted on top of them, which may not completely do away with the need for diesel generators, but could definitely cut down on the use of pollution fuel. Another idea is developing gadgets that run on solar power. A case in point; Samsung displayed a solar powered phone in 2009- the solar guru E1107. Sadly, it seems to have been a one-off case.
The IT industry and IT users, which include people reading this posting, should take the lead. Thanks to advances in technology, devices today are more energy efficient than their predecessors. But we also use more of them-more computers, more phones and more tablets.
So what is the solution? Patel says better connectivity means data centers do not need to be in cities, and thanks to technology, could be managed by very few people. Therefore, very few people could manage them. Therefore, they could be located near dairy farms not a revolutionary technology in India, where village people still use Cowdung cakes as domestic fuel. Patel says Cowdung can be processed in inexpensive digesters to produce methane, which can be burned to create power.
In addition, for the matter what about solar technology? India’s tryst with solar energy has been a start-stop affair so far. At least the mobile communication industry can take the lead here. Mobile towers can easily have solar cells mounted on top of them, which may not completely do away with the need for diesel generators, but could definitely cut down on the use of pollution fuel. Another idea is developing gadgets that run on solar power. A case in point; Samsung displayed a solar powered phone in 2009- the solar guru E1107. Sadly, it seems to have been a one-off case.
The IT industry and IT users, which include people reading this posting, should take the lead. Thanks to advances in technology, devices today are more energy efficient than their predecessors. But we also use more of them-more computers, more phones and more tablets.
Monday, April 4, 2011
IT CAN BE MADE LESS DAMAGING TO THE ENVIRONMENT
Edition-1
It may not seem much but the IT industry already makes for about two percent of the total electricity consumption in the world. This is rising every year as more & more people not only buy computers, but also log into social media sites, consume increasing hours of Internet video & store everything on the cloud.
India’s Environment minister Jairam Ramesh says he closes his ears every time leaders from the IT industry talk green. And if any of ever visited a data centre where thousands of computer servers are kept in room chilled at 18 to 20 degrees Celsius, you get an idea about the kind of energy consumption talking about.
To make matters worse, due to erratic electricity supply, most data centers and
IT offices in India are powered by diesel generators, which, despite advances in technology, are not what one would call environment friendly. Indeed, India’s much-touted mobile revolution has come on the back of diesel generators. Tens of thousands of gensets can be found across the country powering cell phone towers.
SOURCE-BT/KUSHAN MITRA
It may not seem much but the IT industry already makes for about two percent of the total electricity consumption in the world. This is rising every year as more & more people not only buy computers, but also log into social media sites, consume increasing hours of Internet video & store everything on the cloud.
India’s Environment minister Jairam Ramesh says he closes his ears every time leaders from the IT industry talk green. And if any of ever visited a data centre where thousands of computer servers are kept in room chilled at 18 to 20 degrees Celsius, you get an idea about the kind of energy consumption talking about.
To make matters worse, due to erratic electricity supply, most data centers and
IT offices in India are powered by diesel generators, which, despite advances in technology, are not what one would call environment friendly. Indeed, India’s much-touted mobile revolution has come on the back of diesel generators. Tens of thousands of gensets can be found across the country powering cell phone towers.
SOURCE-BT/KUSHAN MITRA
Thursday, March 31, 2011
LET THERE BE LIGHT-BUT NOT TOO MUCH
Edition-3
Solutions, for example, that are based on Digital Addressable Lighting Interface (DALI). The wireless application reduces wiring between operating elements & lighting control. Up to 64 devices that control lighting groups may be flexibly positioned via a single bifilar cable. Expenditures for planning & modernization are minimized. Day light dependent lighting control systems, that use sensors to record changes in lighting & balance the system energy-efficiency, have been available for some time.
Equally established is the use of energy saving lighting system for street lighting. Osram played a successful part in projects where quicksilver steam lamps & upto 55% in energy was saved per lamp. Brickmann: “we have been able to successfully apply our expertise in many municipal energy-saving projects, for example with US Air Force properties in Germany”.
Solutions, for example, that are based on Digital Addressable Lighting Interface (DALI). The wireless application reduces wiring between operating elements & lighting control. Up to 64 devices that control lighting groups may be flexibly positioned via a single bifilar cable. Expenditures for planning & modernization are minimized. Day light dependent lighting control systems, that use sensors to record changes in lighting & balance the system energy-efficiency, have been available for some time.
Equally established is the use of energy saving lighting system for street lighting. Osram played a successful part in projects where quicksilver steam lamps & upto 55% in energy was saved per lamp. Brickmann: “we have been able to successfully apply our expertise in many municipal energy-saving projects, for example with US Air Force properties in Germany”.
Monday, March 28, 2011
LET THERE BE LIGHT-BUT NOT TOO MUCH
Edition-2
If the Sun is shining outside, a room needs less artificial light than on a gloomy day in the fall. If a workplace is not occupied, office lights can be shut off. “Intel-ligent lighting systems integrate intensity sensors & the interface to electric blinds to ensure a balanced interplay in buildings”, says Ullrich Brickmann, Head of marketing, solutions for energy efficiency Siemens building Technologies. The company uses lighting agents from Osram. This lighting specialist has developed technologies for lighting solutions dependent on daylight.
SOURCE-SIEMENS BUILDING TECHNOLOGY
Sunday, March 20, 2011
LET THERE BE LIGHT-BUT NOT TOO MUCH
Edition-1
Artificial light needs electricity & lots of it. In buildings without other technically complex installations like schools, kindergartens, or administration offices, lighting & computers account for about 30% of energy consumption. Effective lighting concepts are thus an important part of energy saving performance contracting. Within this concept, Siemens makes use of synergies within the company & can intelligently optimize the entire system.
A lot more is at stake than automically switching off the lights when they are not needed. Lighting agents & illuminants play an essential role as well. Moreover, the right lighting system to adapt brightness according to usage & environmental surroundings.
SOURCE-SIEMENS BUILDING TECHNOLOGY
Artificial light needs electricity & lots of it. In buildings without other technically complex installations like schools, kindergartens, or administration offices, lighting & computers account for about 30% of energy consumption. Effective lighting concepts are thus an important part of energy saving performance contracting. Within this concept, Siemens makes use of synergies within the company & can intelligently optimize the entire system.
A lot more is at stake than automically switching off the lights when they are not needed. Lighting agents & illuminants play an essential role as well. Moreover, the right lighting system to adapt brightness according to usage & environmental surroundings.
SOURCE-SIEMENS BUILDING TECHNOLOGY
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