How Open Source Reduces Carbon Emissions
So, people ask me, how does this reduce carbon emissions? There are obviously small energy savings (related to DVD production, packaging, transportation, etc) when an individual downloads software instead of buying it off the shelf. However the big emissions savings occur when large companies that maintain vast amounts of data switch to Open Source. Recently the Bank of New Zealand reduced their energy costs and carbon emissions by converting their front end systems to Open Source. See http://cio.co.nz/cio.nsf/spot/B5D33290A0CB8EFFCC25754B0017C4D8
The savings derives from streamlining, speeding up and simplifying their data processes with a single (Red Hat Linux) program (instead of relying on three or four software packages for different functions) and in many cases, replacing real life computer work stations with virtual ones.
Companies Going Open Source
In response to the global recession, the immense cost savings is leading many companies worldwide are switching to Open Source for part or all of their data processing. The best known (among many others) are BART (Bay Area Transit System), Burlington Coats, CISCO, Conoco, the Mobil Travel Guide (Exxon's consumer website), Royal Dutch Shell, Panasonic, Hilfiger, Toyota Motor Sales USA, US Army, US federal courts and the US Post Office bulk sorting facility.
For the most part these systems cost less not because the software is free (companies usually need to pay a vendor for installation and technical support) because they are simpler to run and reduce power consumption.
Countries Going Open Source
Third world countries are also learning how much money Open Source systems can save. Brazil was the first to mandate Open Soft systems for all their government offices. See http://geospatial.blogs.com/geospatial/2009/07/index.html India , Indonesia , the Philippines , Thailand and Vietnam are thinking of following suit. Of course the International Intellectual Property Association is threatening to take them to the WTO see http://opensourceforamerica.org/opensource-attack for it. However attacking the third world, in light of the global recession and food crisis, tends to make you very unpopular these days.
Open Source Design: Not Limited to IT
Engineers, architects and climate change activists in the Open Sustainability movement (see www.worldchanging.com) are expanding Open Source Design beyond its computer applications to spread sustainable living ideas and technologies virally in a way that allows others to improve and build on them. What I find most exciting is their current focus in the third world in part because developing countries are more receptive to the concept of Open Source Design. At the same time, it also seems a really ingenious, non-conflictual way to get them on board with reducing carbon emissions while simultaneously saving money. This is a mode of development in the best tradition of "leapfrogging" skipping inferior, less efficient, more expensive or more polluting technologies and industries to move directly to more advanced and efficient ones.
It is also heartening to see these concepts catching on rapidly in Europe , and to a lesser extent at the community level in the US .
Other examples of Open Source Design:
1. Open Source Scenario Planning Sweden 's Martin Borjesson is the pioneer in this area http://www.well.com/~mb/scenario_planning/
2. Open Source architecture (creating smart green buildings that use less energy because they are planned more efficiently) see Jamais Cascio's website http://openthefuture.com/
3. Collaborative Solution Seeking see Alex Steffen article http://www.worldchanging.com/archives/004140.html
4. The Creative Commons developing world licensing scheme allows green inventors to patent their work in the developed world only, enabling unlimited access for the developing world. See http://creativecommons.org/about/licenses
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