Asus wins eco award

Asus' sustainable computing efforts were rewarded with the conferring of the world's first EU Flower Eco Award for computers on its N50, N80, N20, and N10 notebooks, says Techwhack.

Asus N Series notebooks have already been honoured with EPEAT Gold awards in October this year. The awards are a reflection of the growing momentum of Asus' sustainability drive, Green Asus, which it initiated in 2000.

“Asus aims to create a better world for everyone through top-notch, eco-friendly 3C products. With Green Asus, we hope to blend technology, innovation and environmental sustainability for a cleaner, greener earth for all to live,” said Jonney Shih, chairman of AsusTek Computer.

Since cyber-infrastructure allows for relocation of data facilities to anywhere in the world, the ICT industry can greatly reduce its emissions by relocating computing resources to zero-carbon data centres powered by windmills, hydroelectric or geothermal sources, says ISGTW.

Most approaches to reducing ICT CO2 emissions focus on increasing the energy efficiency of equipment and processes, but this is doomed to fail, says Bill St Arnaud of Canarie, a Canadian research organisation.

Greater efficiency reduces the overall cost of ICT operation, which promotes increased usage and thus creates more CO2. Instead, he says, the focus must be on a zero-carbon strategy.

London IT outsourcing professionals are among those being challenged by the government to adopt the European Union's new code of conduct for data centres, says ihotdesk.

Encouraging IT support staff to voluntarily comply with the new system, minister for sustainable development and energy innovation Lord Hunt identified the important role of business in adopting green technologies.

"By signing up to this new code of conduct companies can save energy and save money, too, which goes to show that what's good for the environment is good for business."