Comments on: Google's Carbon Footprint

By: Evan Mills

Evan Mills — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 00:16:17 +0000

I was quoted very much out of context in the Times article that you cite. That article was subsequently discredited, and they themselves backpedaled on much of what was printed in the original version.

http://eetd.lbl.gov/emills/commentary/tempest.html

By: just a guy

just a guy — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 17:04:44 +0000

i know electronics don't use up as much power when they are 'sleeping', I'm just saying that I doubt tthe environmental impact is that much different then when google is running a search or not. It seems like this 'research' was done just to make people feel environmentally guilty about using google. and I do think the carbon footprint / green thing has gone way too far. Try to track down and watch Penn and Teller's show "Bullshit" - the episode about recycling.

By: Gerry

Gerry — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 14:08:16 +0000

Harvard physicist Alex Wissner-Gross emits more CO2 per day.

...perhaps he should consider his own 'carbon footprint' and just eliminate himself from the planet. If all the whiners did the same it would be a much cooler - and quieter - peaceful planet.

By: Ray

Ray — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 12:18:42 +0000

Such crap. So you turn off Google. Now if I want an answer I have to drive to the library to find it. How much carbon does that screw up?
And Razor, your analogy is just dumb. You can't compare transmitters and processors.

By: Dave

Dave — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 06:04:06 +0000

You mean there are still some who remain unconvinced that the whole carbon footprint greenhouse gas offset business is a scam? "Guilt, guilt, guilt, guilt! Here's how badly you're damaging the environment; pay me a boatload of money and you'll feel better." Bunk. Pure. And. Simple.

By: Nathan Miller

Nathan Miller — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 05:14:55 +0000

Doesn't anyone else think that this mania over carbon footprints has now gone too far?

Way too far?

By: Tony

Tony — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 03:35:16 +0000

I am with the other guy there in doubting that one google search makes them emit that much co2. I would like to see how they calculated those numbers. I hope they took into account that not all electricity on the grid is coal... also if anything google is doing more than most to fight this server farm problem.

Check this out: http://gizmodo.com/5047050/google-patents-floating-server-farm-powered -by-ocean-waves

I don't know if they actually have plans to build it, but at least they're thinking!

By: Razor Eddie

Razor Eddie — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 00:26:23 +0000

In reply to 'just a guy'.
All electrical/electronic devices use significantly less power in a 'quiescent' state than they do an in 'active' one.
Just think about how long your cellphone battery lasts when it isn't used to make or recieve calls, emails etc, than it does when it is being heavily used.
Same principle for computers and servers - when they are heavily used they consume much more power (up to the maximum the power supply is rated for) than when they are sitting around humming quietly to themselves.

By: yeaahh well...

yeaahh well... — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 00:23:16 +0000

hydroelectric dams have terrible negative impacts on the ecosystem. more so than just the salmons. right now only developing countries favor such power generation. China, Chile...etc.

also, by the time I finish typing this, i will have offset that carbon offset you paid.

also, what the hell is a "developing country"?

By: hippybear

hippybear — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 23:36:58 +0000

I seem to believe that Google's server farms are located near hydroelectric dams, and thus have a very reliable source of power which is not contributing much to greenhouse gasses at all.

Just don't think too hard about the salmon.

By: just a guy

just a guy — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 23:00:15 +0000

Um, isn't google's machinery turned on and emiting CO2 and such, whether or not a search is being done?

I mean, their computers are 'impacting the environemnt' no matter what... It seems odd to me that this person is trying to imply that by doing a search, you are hurting the environment.

I seriously doubt that running a search on google makes their computers fart out a little extra CO2.

By: Geoff

Geoff — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 20:36:04 +0000

Thing about the displacement of CO2 emissions created by the internet ,email instead of snail mail,telecommuting. That alone offsets the CO2 emissions.