They should focus on data centers consumption, and how cloud computing could help in this regard. I can't remember the exact amount but I think the EPA reported that 1.5% of all the energy consumed in the US came from data centers.
Does anyone have more info on which other elements are considered energy high-consumers?
Thanks everyone for the comments, and @Wale Bakare, thx for the ZTE link. I'll check it out for the story I'm working on this week about the green initiatives the global top-tier telcom and networking companies are managing these days.
I think investing in energy efficiency of network infrastructure of telecommunication is more of capital intensive. Interesting piece of an article - research institution beaming more search light to achieve by consolidating on energy effeciency within the telecommunication sector.
Meanwhile, according to some previously research papers reviewed that RF baseband consumed larger percentage % of energy in wireless communication systems. This crusade for more energy efficient in wireless systems will set to go on.
On the solar expect - few telecommunication firms have commenced installation of solar panel plates especially to power basestations not for effeciency only but to also cut Co2 emission environmentally. ZTE Corporation, the leading chinese telecoms equipment manufacturer has remarkbly achieved on this. The company has successfully done for a telecom service provider in Africa MTN. ZTE installed solar station to provide power for basestations - MTN cameroon
Solar chargers would be great. We use so much power on our many devices, and harnessing a clean source of energy for them would definitely be an improvement. But I doubt the companies would invest in them unless they see actual profit beyond goodwill in it for them.
Saving paper by sending e-bills is one way of saving environment,but the real saving of the environment requires hat we save on the daily active usage of energy in those billions of mobile phones, tablets, laptops and desktops. Especially for mobiles and tablets there is every possibility to have solar chargers for these devices at affordable prices. If telecom companies can offer solar chargers at subsideised rates and promote their use then that will result in the huge savings in the daily energy consumption of the world. I would say that will be the real contribution of these giants to make the world GREEN again.
pocharles, certainly, no matter what one's motivation, if the actions have a positive effect, there is some measurable improvement. I'm just pointing out the fact that the stores are not wholly motivated by "green" concerns, or else they would wish to encourage people to reuse bags even if they or their tags were not purchased from the store.
I also find that some businesses claim to be "green" when asking customers to opt for paperless billing, though their real motivation is to save their own costs on mailing and postage. That's fine because it really is more efficient all around, but it is just not completely honest to pretend you're doing it for the sake of the environment when you really are motivated by your own bottom line. It would suggest that the businesses would not opt for "green" alternatives unless they gain directly from them.
Doing it for the wrong reason is better than not doing it at all. What is the true metric used to quantify one's green contribution when it comes to environmental savings?
I agree with DennisQ. I see a lot of companies boasting of green innovation which amount to very little real improvement for the environment. Then there are the stores that only promote "green" that helps their own bottom line. For example, CVS will give you a 25 cents credit each time you use a reusable bag, but only if you first purchase the tag issued by the store. Target will also extend a credit for reusing a bag, but only if it's one you purchased from the store for 99 cents.
If understand well ,the article talking about the mobile telecommunications operators and how they will be more "greener" and how the research team will try to find ways to improve the overconsumption problem during the calling time in gsm network.
I think every step we do and has green orientation even if we do for marketing purposes , contribute to improve the quality of everyday life.
Thanks for the comments. Seems like folks may be interested in what some of the bigger networking companies may be doing on this front. Maybe that will be a topic for another post... will need some time to poke around and see what I find.
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Thailand Stages a Comeback Join EBN contributor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday August 23, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. EST for a live chat on how electronic manufacturers in Thailand have shored up their supply chain to reduce the impact of future natural disasters.
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Join EBN contributor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday August 23, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. EST for a live chat on how electronic manufacturers in Thailand have shored up their supply chain to reduce the impact of future natural disasters.
Peter Drucker famously said "Trying to predict the future is like trying to drive down a country road at night with no lights while looking out the back window." Yet in the razor's-edge world of electronics—with a lean supply chain and just-in-time demands—the need to know the future is vital.
While no one really can accurately predict the future, we can take guidance from another Drucker saying which is the best way to predict the future is to create it.
You've heard the saying "the No. 1 supply chain risk is your people." That hasn't always been the case. But today's complex global supply chain requires a new type of multitalented employee. It's one who understands, finance, marketing, economics, is savvy with technology, graceful with relationships and can think analytically.
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Brian Fuller, editor-in-chief of EBN, will lead a 60-minute Avnet Velocity panel discussion that will ask and answer these and other questions swirling around today's supply-chain talent challenges.
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