Just ahead of iPad’s launch, environment watchdog Greenpeace came out with a report showing the not-so-green side of Apple’s latest gadget. Says the environmental watchdog, greenhouse gas emissions due to cloud computing managed through data centres (and PCs, netbooks, iPads, etc) will tend to triple by 2020. The report, Make IT Green: Cloud Computing and its contribution to Climate Change also points at quintessential cloud computing devices like the Apple iPad, which offer users access to the “cloud” of online services like social networks and video streaming and thus contribute to a much larger carbon footprint. The report builds on previous industry research that shows that at current growth rates, data centres and telecom networks, two key components of the cloud, will consume about 1,963 billion kWh of electricity in 2020 — more than triple their current consumption!
“India is now considered the new global hub for cloud computing, with a massive expansion going on in digital infrastructure. According to IDC India, the domestic data centre market is expected to touch US$ 1.52 billion, with the cumulative data centre built-up area likely to touch nearly 8.4 million sq. ft.,” says Abhishek Pratap, Cool IT Campaigner, Greenpeace India. Within the ICT sector, data centres and mobile network towers make up 18 per cent and 14 per cent of the emissions. Also responsible are sources like PCs (manufacturing and uses), mobile phones and other equipment/gadgets (iPads, netbook, etc), Pratap says.
The creation of the cloud has been long considered a boon both to the companies hosting it and consumers who now just need a PC and Internet to fulfill most of their computing needs. “It’s important to note that data centres and cloud-based services can help people reduce their impact on the environment. Like, unified communications technologies help people reduce travel and home energy management services,” says Francois Ajenstat, Senior Director, Environmental Sustainability, Microsoft Corp.
A few like Desi Valli, COO, Net4 India accept that data centres are one of the biggest emitters of CO2, but say that the concept of cloud computing is to reduce the implications of CO2 emissions by reducing the need of multiple data centres. “However, in the current market conditions, many organisations are building their own centres instead of using existing ones due to the lack of understanding and confidence in the security of their data in outsourced centres,” Valli says.
As far as the green observers’ stand goes, Valli is hopeful that the scenario will get better as the acceptance of cloud computing increases and smarter practices come in. “Net4 is building a green data centre in Chennai with an estimated 10-15 per cent power source from solar energy. With virtualisation and cloudification, we are reducing the number of physical servers and intend to reduce the number of centres. Investments are also done on equipment that consumes less power and emits less CO2,” he says.
As far as the end consumer is considered, one expects the IT industry to develop some solutions so that our iPads and PCs also stand strong — environmentally speaking.