8.1.3 Environmental impact

• What does the environmental impact of computing refer to?

  Effects on the natural world
• The electricity needed to power computing devices contributes to greenhouse gas emissions
• Discarded electronic devices containing toxic materials are called e-waste.
• What does the carbon footprint of computing measure?

  Greenhouse gases produced
• Data centers use vast amounts of electricity to power servers and cooling systems
• Hardware production involves resource extraction and chemical use.
• What type of infrastructure requires energy to operate internet cables and routers?

  Network infrastructure
• Match the component of computing with its description:

  Data Centers ↔️ High energy consumption for servers

  Hardware Production ↔️ Resource extraction and pollution

  Network Infrastructure ↔️ Energy needed for internet cables

  User Devices ↔️ Contribute to e-waste when discarded
• The electricity needed to power devices contributes to greenhouse gas emissions
• E-waste contains toxic materials that pollute if not recycled.
• What is included in the carbon footprint of computing?

  Manufacturing to operation
• Data centers consume large amounts of electricity to power servers and cooling systems
• Steps in the environmental impact of computing hardware manufacturing:

  1️⃣ Extraction of rare earth metals

  2️⃣ Water usage in cleaning

  3️⃣ Electricity consumption for operations

  4️⃣ Production of plastic casings
• Which resource used in computing hardware manufacturing leads to soil degradation and water pollution?

  Rare earth metals
• Water used in manufacturing computing hardware can deplete local water resources.
• What ethical concerns arise from high energy consumption in computing?

  Sustainable resource use
• The manufacturing of computing hardware is a resource-intensive process that significantly impacts the environment
• What environmental impact is associated with the use of rare earth metals in computing hardware?

  Soil degradation
• Electricity used in manufacturing computing hardware is primarily generated from renewable sources.

  False
• Plastics used in computing hardware contribute to the carbon footprint and generate non-biodegradable waste
• What is the ethical concern associated with the extensive resource usage in computing hardware manufacturing?

  Sustainability
• What type of pollution results from the incineration of e-waste?

  Air pollution
• E-waste refers to discarded electronic devices
• Toxic materials from e-waste can contaminate soil and water resources.
• What is one ethical responsibility of manufacturers regarding e-waste management?

  Take-back programs
• Order the main strategies for reducing the environmental impact of computing.

  1️⃣ Energy Efficiency

  2️⃣ Sustainable Hardware Manufacturing

  3️⃣ E-waste Management
• Energy-efficient cooling systems in data centers help optimize their energy use.
• What type of materials should be used in sustainable hardware manufacturing to reduce environmental impact?

  Recycled materials
• Ethical principles like justice and responsibility are relevant to environmental sustainability in computing.
• Match the ethical principle with its relevance to environmental sustainability.

  Justice ↔️ Ensures communities are not disproportionately affected by pollution

  Responsibility ↔️ Promotes sustainable waste management

  Stewardship ↔️ Encourages renewable energy use
• What is the environmental impact of computing primarily related to?

  Computing activities
• Energy consumption by computing devices contributes to greenhouse gas emissions.
• Discarded electronic devices containing toxic materials contribute to e-waste pollution.
• What does the carbon footprint of computing measure?

  Greenhouse gases produced
• Match the computing component with its environmental impact.

  Data Centers ↔️ Consume large amounts of electricity

  Hardware Production ↔️ Leads to pollution and e-waste

  Network Infrastructure ↔️ Requires energy to operate internet cables
• How does energy efficiency in computing devices reduce environmental impact?

  Substantial energy demand collectively
• The extensive resource usage in computing hardware manufacturing raises ethical concerns about sustainability.
• What is the primary goal of strategies for reducing the environmental impact of computing?

  Reduce energy consumption
• Optimizing data center energy use is a key action under the strategy of energy efficiency
• E-waste management programs aim to recover valuable materials from electronic waste.