Sustainable (or environment-conscious) computing concerns the consumption of compute resources in a way that leads to a net zero impact on the environment. It is a very broad concept that includes not just power/energy but also ecosystems, pollution (e.g., discarded hardware), and natural resources (e.g., water). While reducing power/energy consumption of computing certainly contributes to sustainability, it is only one part of a very complex problem. Specifically, to achieve sustainability, one needs a multipronged strategy, which spans green sourcing, e-waste, regulations, and AI. In this talk, I will introduce the problem as well as its different aspects, and present some promising research directions.
Presenter: Mahmut Kandemir | Computer Science & Engineering