Saturday, July 13, 2013

social media and cloud services... not cheap

Most of us take for granted the social media and newly developing cloud services especially since many are free. Running and operating a gigantic machines and equipments in server rooms actually costs a lot to the companies and providers... and also the mother nature. According to the article on August 3, 2012, Facebook total consumption of energy was 1.5 percent of the global electricity use (http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=facebook-leadership-reduces-internet-growing-physical-impact).

Facebook server room
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESDKLlTGwfE

Needless to say, the impact to the environment is big. As people rely more on digital devices and more so on cloud computing, the damage to the environment increases (is going digital really environmentally friendly?). Companies should take right actions and be socially responsible.
There are measures taken by companies like Facebook and Google. CSR is no longer a good-to-have but must be an integral part of corporate strategy.

Facebook tracking energy consumption and carbon emission.
http://gigaom.com/2012/08/01/facebook-unveils-energy-use-carbon-emissions-data/

Google going green
http://www.google.com/green/

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