Smart Everything: Will Intelligent Systems Reduce Resource Use?

Posted: 22 Oct 2013

See all articles by Jonathan G. Koomey

Jonathan G. Koomey

University of California, Berkeley - Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab)

H. Scott Matthews

Carnegie Mellon University - Department of Engineering and Public Policy

Eric Williams

Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) - Golisano Institute for Sustainability

Date Written: October 2013

Abstract

Until recently, the main environmental concerns associated with information and communication technologies (ICTs) have been their use-phase electricity consumption and the chemicals associated with their manufacture, and the environmental effects of these technologies on other parts of the economy have largely been ignored. With the advent of mobile computing, communication, and sensing devices, these indirect effects have the potential to be much more important than the impacts from the use and manufacturing phases of this equipment. This article summarizes the trends that have propelled modern technological societies into the ultralow-power design space and explores the implications of these trends for the direct and indirect environmental impacts associated with these new technologies. It reviews the literature on environmental effects of information technology (also with an emphasis on low-power systems) and suggests areas for further research.

Suggested Citation

Koomey, Jonathan G. and Matthews, H. Scott and Williams, Eric, Smart Everything: Will Intelligent Systems Reduce Resource Use? (October 2013). Annual Review of Environment and Resources, Vol. 38, pp. 311-343, 2013, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2343665 or http://dx.doi.org/10.1146/annurev-environ-021512-110549

Jonathan G. Koomey (Contact Author)

University of California, Berkeley - Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) ( email )

1 Cyclotron Road
Berkeley, CA 94720
United States

H. Scott Matthews

Carnegie Mellon University - Department of Engineering and Public Policy ( email )

Baker Hall 129
5000 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
United States

Eric Williams

Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) - Golisano Institute for Sustainability ( email )

Rochester, NY 14623-5603
United States

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