Goal For The Green

Guest Post by Zeke Iddon

Yes, the entire Internet.

A fairly odd question, but one that will probably give you pause for thought; in a world where the phrase ‘global warming’ is synonymous with SUVs, air conditioning and poor recycling, it isn’t often that we consider one of the most widely-used resources ever to grace the planet.

So, how green is the Internet? The answer will probably surprise you…

The Case Against

Putting aside for one moment the amount of energy used to power offices and home computer set-ups around the world, the data centers which they access are worth examining.

Forming the core of the ‘net, these data centers are absolutely gigantic – many are the size of large shopping malls – and house rows and rows of power-hungry cabinets as well as the systems which keep them cool.

It’s difficult to quantify exactly how much CO2 is produced globally since it can vary wildly depending on what power grid they derive their energy from (for instance, if a country runs its electricity grid via fossil fuels), but our best estimates put the worldwide CO2 emissions from data centers at around 80 megatons.

It’s a hard number to visualize, but to put it into perspective these data centers account for 1.5% of all the world’s electricity (as of 2010). By 2020, it is predicted that the emissions put out by all of the data centers on the planet will quadruple, making this sector of industry a bigger pollutant than the airline industry.

But if you think that sounds extreme, consider this: data centers are only 10% of the equation.

90% of the pollution is generated within our own homes.

Connecting to a network wirelessly (either through routers or via mobile carriers) accounts for nearly 43.2 TerraWatts of all energy usage, which carries a carbon footprint equal to putting nearly 5 million new cars on the road.

With this in mind, it’s not surprising that having this technology in our homes has implications not just for the planet, but also our own health. There’s strong evidence to suggest that radiation emissions from WiFi routers and static towers has a tangible effect on the human body, which gives further rise to concern about our reliance on WiFi. These dangers – as well as the carbon footprint – are greatly mitigated by simply plugging into a router directly.

Obviously we’re not suggesting that the world shuts down the entire Internet, but at face value, the Internet appears to be one of the biggest – and most often ignored – drains on our resources, and something that should be used sparingly… or is it?

The Case For

In order to fully understand this tricky puzzle, we need to look at the bigger picture. Every activity uses up resources; what it really comes down to is how sustainable those activities and resources are.

We cannot begin to count the amount of hours spent watching cat videos on YouTube, or how much energy is used up by teenage girls pursuing One Direction on Twitter. But what we can quantify is the energy savings afforded to businesses on a practical level:

Increased connectivity allows for better telecommuting. Home offices typically use half the energy of a corporate set-up, and hugely telecommuting reduces emissions caused by traffic congestion.

This applies to numerous industries, too – particularly ones that are moving towards digitization. If you cut out the amount of unnecessary travel, and also factor in that telecommuting is proven to increase productivity, the Internet is very much a force for environmental good.

And while the amount of data centers needed to house the ‘net is on the up, so are their efficiency levels. In part driven by Green Peace activism (and for cost reasons), many of the big data companies – Google, Apple, Facebook, etc. – are striving to make their data centers more energy efficient.

According to a Standford report, the big players have the potential to reduce CO2 emissions by a huge 88%, and Apple have already managed to become carbon-neutral.

In Conclusion

So the question isn’t necessarily how green the Internet is, but more one of how green we can make it.

The answer for those of us at home?

Plug directly into your wireless routers, and try to work from home more often.

The planet will thank you for it.

Whether you are actively pursuing a fulfilling career as a land development specialist or you are drafting up the important documents as a planning policy and law advocate, your role in developing the world’s land and accommodating the growing population is one of the most critical jobs in the world today. Perhaps you have thought about the prospects of international affairs overseas or are looking to expand your career and work as a program expert in geographic information systems and planning. If you are looking to get ahead in the workplace, an urban planning degree from a top online school can expand your career in ways you never imagined.

a zone model (urban planning) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Most of the top schools are now offering an online master’s degree in urban planning, and you can complete your degree in as little as three years. These schools recognize the importance of your industry, and their professional educators design curriculums to reflect the current demands of your trade. They also recognize the importance of your busy schedule and that your job often requires overtime and imposes an inflexible schedule. The University of Florida is a great example of a school that offers a self-guided curriculum, a diversified program, knowledgeable professors, flexible financing options and an opportunity to choose from a variety of specializations within your field.

As a student in the master’s degree program, you will engage with other like-minded professional students from all over the world and utilize the latest 3-D mapping systems and web applications to enhance your expertise. You can choose to study day or night, weekends or weekdays, and you will always have access to unlimited resources, advisors and staff to assist you at any time.

Spatial analysis, advanced planning systems and geographic information systems have become extremely important aspects of the planning and development field as our digital technology continues to grow and change. With a master’s degree in urban planning, you can be on the cutting edge of the technology. You can have an active voice in creating the programs that developers use, and you can spear head major global projects and be in the boardroom during huge corporation expansions. Whether you are looking to move up in your current company or you are looking for an entirely new area of expertise within the industry, an online master’s degree in urban planning will give you the confidence and skills needed to excel in an ever-changing industry.

Vermont Law School is one of the most highly regarded environmental law schools in the United States. Indeed, its environmental law program has been ranked tops in the country by U.S. News and World Report three years in a row. Vermont Law School offers two different masters programs in the environmental law arena.

The Earth seen from Apollo 17. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

At the heart of these programs is an education designed to give students the tools they need to make a positive change in the natural world. The masters courses are designed to give students a strong background in the legalities associated with sustainable management of the world’s natural resources. The masters programs focus on both environmental practices as well as public policy.

A unique element of the masters programs in environmental law offered by Vermont University is that they are both online offerings. A person can obtain a masters degree in law at their own pace and literally from the comfort of their own home. Moreover, a student can be located anywhere in the country to access the masters of law programs at Vermont Law School.

The two programs at Vermont Law School include the Masters of Environmental Law and Policy. The second masters program is the LLM in Environmental Law. Through both of these significant and comprehensive courses of study, a student garners a deep understanding of policy, science and the law that contributes to meaningful global solutions for the future.

The LLM program specifically is designed for students who previously obtained a JD (Juris Doctor). On the other hand, the Masters of Environmental law is geared not only to law school graduates but to other professionals like teachers and scientists — individuals who have a serious interest in the environmental future of the country and the world. The program is also geared to governmental workers and employees as well. There is a significant focus not only on law but on public policy as well.