Joe Tucci (Chairman of the Board at EMC) tells Bob and Joe to get rid of some tapes.

Who knew storage guys were so much fun?

Thanks to the ever-observant Cory Doctorow (whose Eastern Standard Tribe I thoroughly enjoyed last week), I’ve discovered that today is Blog Action Day.

According to the organizers over at blogactionday.com, Blog Action Day is intended to try to elevate a singular issue into a higher place in the world’s consciousness. This year, it’s the environment. All you have to do to participate is to blog about whatever environmental issue you are the most passionate about, contribute the day’s advertising earning to a favorite environmental charity and encourage others to do the same.

Simple and, perhaps, effective. While you may not earn a Nobel for your efforts, you just might help the world become a tad greener today. We’ve blogged here before about ways to e-cycle, a new way to think green (carbon footprints) and even podcasted about greenwashing.

Here’s one more hot (or cold) concept to add to the list for the server geeks out there: green data centers. My colleague over at SearchDataCenter.com, the intrepid Matt Stansberry, has been hard at work writing “The Green Data Center: Energy Efficient Computing in the 21st Century.”

Learn more about the forces driving IT energy consumption, why you should care and how you can make a business case to do something about it. It’s well-written, it’s downloadable and, best of all, it’s free.

Go read it.  For that matter, go read Matt’s post today posted today about how green computing is driving both better collaboration and faster product advancement.

In the meantime… it’s time to start practicing green computing!

Don’t forget to turn off your PC and unplug your chargers before you go home tonight.

Consider switching to a laptop and telecommuting more while flying less.

Ride your bicycle wherever possible and look into the slow food movement.

Adjust your PC’s hibernation settings to use the least amount of energy.

Consolidate some servers through virtualization.

Use LCDs, not CRTs.

And don’t forget to e-cycle!

Go green!

Environmental responsibility can be a bit of a pain. For one thing, I’d love to buy a new computer but I’m having difficulty rationalizing it (and, let me tell you, I can rationalize with the best!), making it fit into the “sustainable practices” model.

I’m still hearing that computers are, on the average, considered obsolete and discarded after only three years. Can that be true? We’re a three-computer household, with ages ranging from 5-8 years. And I’d love to trade up but… they all work. They do everything we need them to do (mind you, we’re not gamers), are reliable enough, fast enough, have enough storage. So as much as I’d like to get a new desktop with a flat screen monitor and a fresh, new hard drive — it just doesn’t seem to be the best thing to do.

Gartner Research recently reported that the global IT industry is responsible for about two percent of carbon dioxide emissions, equivalent to aviation.

Other tidbits:

• It takes about 1.8 tons of chemicals, fossil fuels and water to make a single PC.
• Most obsolete computers end up in landfill.
• Toxic chemicals, such as cadmium and mercury, leach out into the surrounding soil.
• Energy costs will soon consume one-third of IT budgets.

Sigh. I guess I’m morally obligated to keep my old systems until they give up the ghost… On the other hand… you know, my sister could definitely use a computer. And even if she only lives across town, couldn’t donating one be considered doing my part to bridge the digital divide? And if I buy a new one from a responsible company, can’t I see that as support for good environmental practices? Yeaaaaaaaah… that’s the ticket! (I did tell you about that “rationalization” thing )

So. You’re going to buy a new computer. What can you do with your old one? Here’s a sampling of information and advice:

From GOODmagazine, here’s a punchy and to-the-point video about the issue.

Freecycle.org is a fabulous international community for the exchange of goods. Find a worthy home for your old electronics!

Ewasteguide.info offers more information and advice.

The EPA maintains e-cycling information on its Website, including “Where Can I Donate or Recycle My Old Computer and Other Electronic Products?“

Environmental responsibility in the enterprise

Some of IT’s promises have not really come to fruition. Paperless office, anyone? To the contrary, we’re printing more than ever. It may not be easy being green but — hey! — we’ve only got one planet. How much do you know about environmentally responsible and sustainable computing practices and technologies? Try our quiz, Greening the cube farm.

How green are your computing — and buying — practices? Let’s talk about it! ~ Ivy Wigmore

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UPDATE: Adam Trujillo, over at SearchDataCenter’s excellent Server Specs blog, has posted a Q&A with environmental reporter Elizabeth Grossman, exploring e-waste further, including why we should all care about it.