Environmental Benefits of Optimizing Graphics
One of the sometimes "hidden" but incredibly important benefits of graphics optimization relates to the vast quantities of electricity that are consumed on an annual basis in order to power all of the servers and computers accessing the internet. In a September 2006 article published by Eric Bangeman at Ars Technica entitled "The IT energy crisis," it is estimated that as much as ten (10) percent of the costs of providing web hosting services and information technology is dedicated to electrical power for servers, climate control, switches, uninterrupted power supplies, and network attached storage...with energy costs expected to rise by as much as fifty (50) percent in the coming years.
Fewer servers needed to process the same amount of information will reduce the electricity consumed to provide web hosting services, and faster-loading web pages could effectively reduce the amount of time visitors of web sites need to spend online to obtain the same amount of information, further reducing the demand for electricity. A group called the Concerned Citizens to Save CyberSpace attempted to bring awareness to this issue in 2001, with their organization of an event called CyberDay 1.0 and SpaceOut. However, a great deal more can and should be done to raise awareness on this particular issue.
Another environmental benefit of graphics optimization is the ability to extend the life cycle for existing computer equipment hosting or accessing web sites. Computers and electronic equipment are one of the largest known sources of heavy metals and organic pollutants in the waste streams of developed nations. The more that can be done to extend the life cycle of existing equipment, the less hazardous waste that will be introduced into the environment. The Computer TakeBack Campaign has done fabulous work to raise awareness on this particular subject, and was one of the inspirations for creating this web site.
Numerous other benefits of graphics optimization exist as well! To learn more about some of the financial and societal benefits of graphics optimization, please follow the links included within this sentence.
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