Lifetime exergy consumption as a sustainability metric for information technologies
- 1 May 2009
- conference paper
- conference paper
- Published by Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
Abstract
This paper summarizes recent explorations of the use of lifetime exergy consumption as a thermodynamically based metric for sustainability of information technologies. Other proposed thermodynamic metrics are described and compared with life cycle exergy consumption. The pros and cons of different metrics are discussed, and the advantages of life cycle exergy as a metric for information technologies are described. A lifetime exergy consumption model designed specifically for data center server analysis is presented as an example of how this type of metric can be used for information technologies. Database needs to facilitate this type of analysis are described. The operation of the lifetime exergy consumption model is demonstrated for case studies examining the effects of varying some of the data center design parameters. The use of this type of life cycle exergy consumption analysis for other information technologies is also discussed and assessed.Keywords
This publication has 13 references indexed in Scilit:
- An Exergy-Based Figure-of-Merit for Electronic PackagesJournal of Electronic Packaging, 2005
- Thermodynamics of the Corn-Ethanol Biofuel CycleCritical Reviews in Plant Sciences, 2004
- The value of the exergetic life cycle assessment besides the LCAEnergy Conversion and Management, 2002
- Multiobjective Screening and Evaluation of Chemical Process TechnologiesIndustrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 2001
- Life cycle assessment and its application to process selection, design and optimisationChemical Engineering Journal, 1999
- The human development index: a critical reviewEcological Economics, 1998
- Exergy, waste accounting, and life-cycle analysisEnergy, 1998
- Evaluating the environmental impact of products and production processes: a comparison of six methodsScience of The Total Environment, 1997
- Environmental Sustainability: Universal and Non‐NegotiableEcological Applications, 1996
- Towards the Sustainable Corporation: Win-Win-Win Business Strategies for Sustainable DevelopmentCalifornia Management Review, 1994