How Cloud Computing Is Helping Green Businesses

Grazed from GreenerIdeal. Author: Editorial Staff.

Cloud computing, or the practice of using remote servers to store data and software, is changing the way the world does business. The cloud can be accessed from anywhere where there’s an internet connection, and therefore allows business data to be stored and continuously updated in one, central location. This guide to cloud computing explains the technology in further detail.

But what has this got to do with green business practices? Well, Microsoft has invested in a study that found “small and medium-sized businesses can reduce the impact of their activities on the environment by taking advantage of cloud technologies.” However, others disagree, and the National Data Center Energy Efficiency Information Program’s factsheet states that in 2006, Data Centers used 61 billion kWh of electricity (equivalent to 1.5% of all U.S. energy consumption) and that the amount of energy consumed by data centers is set to continue to grow by 12% per year…

So which is true?
While data centers do consume massive amounts of electricity (and frequently use energy sources high in carbon, according to Greenpeace’s 2010 report), Google is going a long way towards offsetting this energy consumption. It’s also impossible to ignore the fact that the use of cloud computing technologies does reduce costs and lead to more flexible working practices for grass-roots green initiatives…

Read more from the source @ http://www.greenerideal.com/business/0220-how-cloud-computing-is-helping-green-businesses/