The days when all our software, music, pictures and documents were stored on our own work or home computers are numbered. With companies such as Apple, Amazon and Facebook gathering masses of content on distant servers, all we need is a device that lets us log on, and the world pours into our smart phone, tablet or computer.
That means less plastic packaging, fewer cardboard boxes, and theoretically more environmentally friendly media use. However, the giant servers delivering all this digital content depend on massive amounts of electricity. That’s where the problem lies.
Greenpeace International’s updated survey asks “How Clean Is Your Cloud?” Unfortunately, the answer is “not very.” Much of the energy that powers the cloud is supplied by dirty utilities.
Dirty Utilities Power the Cloud
“How Clean Is Your Cloud?” looks at 14 of the leading companies moving to cloud technology. All of them rely to varying degrees on coal and nuclear power, but some are gradually moving to greener sources.
Yahoo and Google rank highest for their commitment to renewable energy. Facebook earns kudos for moving in that direction, with the construction of a new data center in Sweden that will be powered by renewable energy.
Amazon, Apple and Twitter score all Ds and Fs. After reviewing the data, Amazon and Apple told Greenpeace the estimates were incorrect, but they did not provide corrected information.
Read more: amazon, apple, cloud, coal, data cloud, earthday, earthweek, energy, environment & wildlife, facebook, google, green, greenpeace, technology, twitter
Photo credit: Thinkstock
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EVERYONE ... STOP & LISTEN !!! IT's NOT MEAT BY-PRODUCTS !! IT's PEOPLE !!! PEOPLE…
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hmmm... so why did my posts happen 3 times... odd...
hehehe... not just 'green' powered, but 'green' COOLED too... servers need energy and cooling capabilities to keep things running ULTRA-FAST.
hmmm, Northern Canada..., Alaska, Greenland, Iceland, Nordic Countries, Northern Russia, Northern Asia, Antarctica, Southernmost of South Americas... etc
hehehe... not just 'green' powered, but 'green' COOLED too... servers need energy and cooling capabilities to keep things running ULTRA-FAST.
hmmm, Northern Canada..., Alaska, Greenland, Iceland, Nordic Countries, Northern Russia, Northern Asia, Antarctica, Southernmost of South Americas... etc
hehehe... not just 'green' powered, but 'green' COOLED too... servers need energy and cooling capabilities to keep things running ULTRA-FAST.
hmmm, Northern Canada..., Alaska, Greenland, Iceland, Nordic Countries, Northern Russia, Northern Asia, Antarctica, Southernmost of South Americas... etc
Thanks.
Thanks for the article.
Thanks.
We are doomed.
@ Steve P..What would you consider the REAL bastions of truth ? Let me guess. Fox News ? Sarah Palin ? Rick Sanatorium ? the Tbaggers ? Was I right ?
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