1.

Describe the various assets of an organization from their carbon generation

perspective

- Buildings and Facilities

Environmental considerations should be made during architecture and construction.
Purpose of buildings, people movements, geographical locations (weather), and
durability of the building impact their overall carbon contribution. Examples of
decision making in design include the materials used in the construction, the extent
to which the building is facing the sun, the wind directions, and the way in which
these natural light and natural cooling are put together to reduce energy
consumption.
- Data Center
This is a special purpose building to house data servers. In addition to the standard
building considerations, the ratio between power usage by the servers versus the
rest of the power is a popular environmental consideration, e.g., the cooling required
for the servers vs the air conditioning required in the rest of the building. Thus,
building technologies and data server technologies are used to reduce carbon.
- Devices (e.g., laptop, mobiles)
Design, development, procurement, operation, and usage of devices is considered
here. E.g. low-power consuming design for laptops and mobile devices, efficient
batteries for them, biodegradability of materials used, etc. Apart from the operational
carbon generated by these devices, their disposal is also an important issue.
- Vehicles (e.g., cars, trucks, corporate vans, and buses)
Direct fuel emissions, pollution level of the type of fuel, design of the engines, and so
on need to be considered. Procurement, operations and disposal activities apply to
vehicles used by the organization. The kind of vehicle, its design, how long it will be
operated, and the method of its disposal has to be considered.

2. List and explain the factors which influence green data centers

- Design, layout, and location

Physical building in which the data center resides. Can be one building, or multiple
buildings spread across geographical regions. Architecture and design of the building
(physical shape, naturally cooling and ventilation, natural light, ease of access etc.),
geographical region (e.g., locating a data center in Iceland), and the material used in
construction of the building (Terracotta for roofing; painting the roofs white) are the
considerations. The size and design of rooms in which servers are housed and also
the location of the server rooms within the data center play a role in carbon reduction.
For example, if the room to house the server exactly fits the server size, the cooling
effect will be maximized. So these factors influence the organization’s green
endeavors.
- Cooling, air conditioning, power source and power consumption
This includes the cooling strategies of the servers and the air conditioning relating to
the actual building. This also includes use of green energy sources (such as wind).
and the physical location of the rooms to be cooled.
- Power management
 Number of people working, opening and closing of doors. Also includes procurement
and installation of green products (such as LED light bulbs). The source of renewable
energy also plays a role.
- Servers
Their numbers, positioning, etc.— Physical location of the racks, their positioning (hot
aisle/cold aisle), cooling—water cooled, air cooled,etc.
- Data strategy
Virtualization aims to pool resources together to deliver data center services by
pooling resources that may be otherwise underutilized. Adopting virtualization and
creating ground-up virtualization architectures enable data center energy efficiencies.
- Networks and communications equipment,
both land-based and wireless. The numbers and capacities of these equipment in the
data center contribute to its carbon footprint.

3. Short notes:

a. Data server optimization

Optimization of servers deals primarily with the numbers and usage of the servers. It can be
improved through better organization of the databases including their design, provisioning for
redundancy, improved capacity forecasting, data normalization and usage of proper data
types within the database. Optimization also includes consolidation of various physical
servers that would reduce their total numbers. Standardization of equipment also reduces
the overall capacity needed for backups and mirroring of databases. Improved technologies
of the servers themselves (e.g. Blade) also help in the optimization process. The costs
associated with the cooling of the servers is also rising. Data centers are heavily occupied
and are stretched for their cooling capacity as these buildings are catering for far more
sophisticated servers than they originally are designed for. More techniques that can help

◾
with server optimization are:

◾
Management, anticipation, and optimization of storage capacities of the data center.

◾
Identification of unused capacity of servers
Conversion of existing physical servers to “virtual servers”
◾ Efficient server operations. For example, a server that is on but idle would consume half
◾ Efficient management of air-conditioning and cooling equipments
the power it needs when being used fully

◾ Decommissioning servers once their service level agreement has expired

b. Data server virtualization

Data server virtualization includes creation of many virtual servers from one physical server.
It has a significant impact on reducing carbon emissions. Data centers can consolidate their
physical server infrastructure as multiple virtual servers are hosted on a lesser number of
servers. This results in reduced power consumption, reduced number of servers, etc. For
example, virtualization reduces required floor space, which, in turn, reduces building size,
number of people required to run the center, and reduced number of support tasks.
Virtualization software is mainly focused on creating multiple views of the same underlying
hardware and operating system. Sometimes, the operating system is itself equipped with
virtualization capabilities.
Different levels at which virtualization can be implemented include presentation virtualization
(wherein users get a feel for owning the presentation of an application, whereas it is actually
shared), application virtualization (enables multiple users to use the same application),
desktop virtualization (applies the virtualization techniques of the servers at a local, desktop
level), storage virtualization (applied to databases), and network virtualization (relates to the
communications and networking equipments of the data center).
These virtualization techniques are not independent of each other. For example,
presentation virtualization is closely connected with application virtualization. Application
virtualization is where an application is delivered to the end-user in a virtualized environment
separated from the underlying operating system. Multiple application versions can be
executed in this way also where there are compatibility issues between an application and
the operating system. Desktop virtualization would separate the environment of the user
from the hardware

.
 c. Cloud computing and data centers

Cloud computing provides an opportunity for organizations to consolidate their hardware and
corresponding data space requirements. Cloud computing offers the potential for economies
of scale that go beyond a single data center. It is possible to consolidate the costs of
services and centralize the carbon generation where it can be controlled and optimized. The
use of Cloud computing costs an organization two-thirds less than running the same
workload on a non virtualized data center. Consolidation of applications, data warehouses,
and hardware within the organization results in a private cloud. The SaaS business model
emanating from Cloud computing allows companies to access enterprise applications such
as CRM and SCM through the internet, obviating the need to host these applications in a
proprietary data center. The opportunities to reduce carbon emissions increase with
consolidation of both hardware and software applications. The payment models for
SaaS-based applications is usually based on its usage—akin to the typical monthly bill
received for utilities such as gas or electricity. Therefore, future business growth can be
planned without producing excessive and unusable data center capacity. The resulting
carbon savings from not having a private data center is huge.

d. Networking and communications infrastructure

Data centers hold the networking and communication equipment of the organization. These
play a significant role in its carbon footprint. The equipment that contributes to carbon
footprint includes switches, routers, LAN, WAN, and mobile devices. Monitoring of networks
also contributes to the carbon footprint. Networking strategies like having a thick-client
architecture, which enables substantial processing at the client end, can reduce the
processing traffic which minimizes memory and processing time on the server. But this also
means that the thick-client will require installation and configuration of a large part of the
application resulting in increased infrastructure at the client end. Network traffic reduction
and overheads at the client side have to be balanced.
Following are the categories of networks that need attention in terms of their carbon
footprint:
LAN: The physical connections amongst the machines and the data center. Usually, these
may be a collection of cables that may have “grown” as the organization grew, adding to
power and cooling requirements.
WAN: To enable communication amongst its desktop and laptop machines with and beyond
its data center. WAN comprises use of communication lines that make up the VPN of the
organization which reduce the control an organization has over its carbon generation.
Mobile Networks: Enable calculations of carbon across the entire stack of networks including
programmable interfaces for infrared, bluetooth, and cellular networks.
Wireless communication may result in more carbon emissions. For example, if wireless
transmitters and receivers are left on when they are not being used, they would produce
more carbon than their wired counterparts.
The end users can play a role in the use of communications tech. Long-range
communications networks require a more organized approach for controlling their carbon
emissions especially with transcendence to the 3G networks.
4. What are the policies and practises of green POD in the context of devices and
peripherals?
5. What is Green BPM? Discuss the roles of green BPM in reduction of an
organizational carbon footprint.

Green BPM is an approach to modeling, optimizing, consolidating, and executing business

processes of an organization from a carbon perspective. Application of Green BPM results in
improving the ways in which an organization undertakes operations. Other characteristics of
BPM such as EAI, workflow, content management, and human and system process
automation can be applied toward Green BPM. Green BPM can be considered as a set of
management and tech disciplines focused primarily on workflow and process automation
that drives the implementation of optimized and sustainable business processes. Such
optimization of processes covers many aspects of the performance. Processes can be
optimized to ensure efficient utilization of resources. Processes can be reengineered to
creatively eliminate the use of redundant resources.
For example, a home loan process that requires application by a broker, credit check
validation, and risk assessment through three separate agencies can be electronically
consolidated as one. Such reengineering of processes has been a hallmark of business
efficiency over the past few decades.
Roles of BPM in reduction of organizational carbon footprint:

- Green BPM makes carbon contents of processes measurable

- Enables changes in processes possible with minimum carbon generation
- Helps eliminate redundant processes which are leading to wasteful carbon
generation
- Reduces carbon generation within the processes by optimizing tasks within the
processes
- Eliminates any useless processes within the organization leading to reduced carbon
generation

6. What are the characteristics of the process and how do they apply to a green
process?
7. Explain the concept of green process engineering with an example.

Green BPM includes reengineering of business processes to optimize their emissions.

Reengineering will incorporate re-evaluation of processes and understanding of their
supporting hardware, software, and people to cut down carbon generated through them.

In figure, a simple distribution process on the left shows a manual distribution process, with
steps from manufacturer to warehouse, retailer, and end-user. A reengineering exercise will
lead to the process in the middle.
The process in the middle is an electronically enabled process that will provide business
efficiency in terms of the distribution network achieved by displaying the product on an
organization’s web site and enabling the consumer to order it directly from the website. Now
the steps associated with wholesalers and retailers can be avoided.
The third process model, shown on the right, is efficient from cost and time viewpoint, and
also from a carbon viewpoint. For example, the third process model will aim to completely
eliminate the E-intermediaries. Customer driven reengineering will optimize collaborative
business processes to eliminate steps that were required only because of lack of alternative
technologies. Location-sensitive mobile technologies can improve the carbon performance
by eliminating intermediary steps that result in carbon.
The premise here is that if the same process goal is achieved with fewer steps, the end
result would be carbon-efficient.

Green re-engineered processes can be measured for the total carbon content of the
production process, the carbon generated by customer searches, and the overall carbon
produced in ordering, packaging, and distribution to the consumer. Green BPR aims for a
dramatic drop in the carbon emissions by a combination of process changes and technology
support. BPR initiatives lead to customer-focused processes whose end-goal is to achieve
customer satisfaction rather than create hierarchical reorganization.

8. Explain the factors which affect achieving the green business process
management.

◾ People need to know the purpose and the passion to perform processes in such a way to
achieve Green BPM goals. So it depends on how much they know about green concepts
and how they want to approach the environment that results in the success of Green BPM

◾
goals.
Transport is a substantial contributor to the greenhouse gases. Green BPM should

◾
essentially reduce the need for transport while doing jobs.
Facilities are essential for any business. Green BPM should facilitate to have any facility

◾
which could produce less carbon footprint during the business operation and in idle time.
Development of product or service in any business is one of the core components of the
value chain of the business. Development processes should be modeled so that the carbon

◾
footprint for the development of any product or service is minimized.
Production is a continuous work done in businesses which adds carbon footprint to the
outputs. Production processes need attention in modeling and optimizing in terms of carbon
contents.
◾ Information is the most important part of any process. Information modeling, capturing,
presenting, and analyzing would impact carbon content and it can provide the knowledge of

◾
green status of the processes.
Communication is one of the most important enabler for Green BPM. Effective
communication will pave the way to achieve Green BPM goals quicker and it can also
reduce the effect of carbon footprint.

9. What are the advantages of cloud computing in the context of green IT? What are
the challenges and risks associated with cloud computing in the same context?

- Virtualization
Virtualization provides the basis for consolidation of the data center’s hardware that reduces
the overall carbon emissions of the organization. Carbon performance requirements from
virtualization are identified, documented, and measured in accordance with the overall green
strategies and objectives of the organization.
Challenge is that it needs to be ensured that the virtualization technologies are able to
operate along with the old implementations of the systems.

- Smart Networks
Upgrading the organization’s communication networks assures service delivery, lower
operational costs, and creates a smaller environmental footprint. Incorporating the
self-healing capabilities of the networks in the green solutions space creates opportunities
for network efficiencies and reduces the overall carbon emissions of the organization.
Challenge is that the costs can be high if the old network and communications haven’t
reached their full lifecycle.

- Real-Time Decision
Advantages: (a) augments the real-time aspect of decision making which frees up staff to
spend more time on value-added services. Travel times are also reduced.
(b) improved ability to understand carbon data and information that can be used to fine-tune
the performance of the organization in real time to reduce the carbon emissions.
Challenge is that real-time decision making is based on availability and delivery of
information in the context of the need of the user. Such information can be achieved through
mobile technologies, devices, and applications which can can be very expensive.

- Alignment
Green IT systems (data, processes, and interfaces) need to be aligned with the existing
organizational systems in order to have the desired positive impact of carbon reduction.
Challenge is that alignment is an architectural issue and organizations need to focus on
reducing the friction within and amongst the systems.

- Optimization
Optimization is the choice amongst possible alternative solutions that are aligned with the
carbon footprint minimization objective of the organization.
Challenge is that it requires awareness among the people in the organization to make these
choices.