Customer Reviews

The Greening of IT: How Companies Can Make a Difference for the Environment

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4 star:		(1)
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Great Book. Great thinking. An eye opener for IT Industry & IT Professionals. Simple & easy to understand flow, which inspires.
I am an IT Professional working on a large project in South Africa, where energy is the major expense. This book elaborate on how companies can implement Green IT. Save Money and Save the Planet !!!

Great book with real world case studies to reinforce the importance of the "Greening of IT".

It was easy to compare the thinking of current IT infrastructure to where IT infrastructure needs to go as there were plenty of tables or web links to illustrate the efficiencies gained using a greener approach. The main drawback to using external links is that they may not be available by the time the book is published. A website with updates would be a good idea - the free online edition is only a 45 day trial.

Some of the newer technologies made it into the book, but I did not see some of the others - for example Flywheel UPS (although flywheels have been around a long time). Fuel Cell backup power did rate a mention as an emerging technology.

Some more discussion on Computer Room efficiencies and the maximum limits of under floor cooling to handle the newer high density racks based on air flow limits would have been a good addition. This is certainly not a negative because there is only so much that you can cover in a general book.

A few illustrations were a little too small or did not have enough contrast for easy viewing in a black and white publication (example Fig. 11.3, and 11.4 which is a thermal camera image and better suited to color), but did not detract from the material being presented. I am assuming the choice of black and white was driven by the desire for a Kindle version, as well as the extra printing costs needed for color.

As mentioned a lot of external links to extra information were provided, and overall a great snapshot of the current thinking related to the Greening of IT. Naturally with the author being an IBM person there was good coverage of IBM technologies - but there was more than enough coverage of non-IBM solutions so this was not a problem. I recommend this book for both the technical and non-technical reader as the material worked at both levels.

This book the greening of IT is well written and presented for both the expert as well as the beginner. The case studies are all well written given a real world scenario of how IT greening is taking place , A lot of informative data and links are given which will provide further reference for the IT professional.

THE GREENING OF IT: HOW COMPANIES CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT tells how IT business can 'go green' and use best practices for adding value and profit into the picture. Using leading-edge reality, John Lamb tells how to assess the business prospects for green IT, set priorities, and assess both internal and external resistance to such a project. Case studies blend with checklists and solutions in a powerful, recommended guide for any business library.

This book is well worth the time invested to read it. "Green IT" is a concept/methodology that everyone in the industry needs to understand. The information in this book is laid out very well and is easy to read. If you are looking for information on current energy saving practices, regulatory information, and general strategies, regarding the greening of IT, this is an excellent resource.

The topic is very relevant to the times we live in. The book is well thought out and addresses the key issues in a manner which provides a clear understanding of various choices that can be made to help make the environment better. Information Technology (IT) is the lifeblood of every aspect of our civilization. By considering the importance of Green IT as one of the parameters to be addressed during their decision making and making some green IT choices, Executives can help minimize the impact of Information Technology installations on the environment. I found this book very informative.

As a university professor in humanities who is worried about the future and eager to get a glimpse into the present, I found John Lamb's The Greening of IT clearly organized, eminently readable and up-to-the-minute interesting. Especially persuasive is the author's analysis of how major global institutions and corporations--built for a pre-IT era--must remake themselves both to prosper in a new world of IT and to preserve and heal our old world! For those whose technical knowledge is minimal, Dr. Lamb presents a helpful introduction and excellent definitions and descriptions of process. For specialists, his explanations of engineering and economic strategies, as well as his richly referenced notes and practical or personal illustrations of problem-solving, are a great boon: it's all here. What I like best is Dr. Lamb's balance between the massive challenge we all face and the variety of solutions our species (not just the scientists and engineers) must implement. We can all make the incremental changes that will save us. Highly recommended!

From the beginning, this book was very easy to read and not at all like a textbook. As I read further, the information about practical business benefits of going Green were explained very thoughtfully. The author has struck a very good balance between giving detailed information that a business can implement, and making the writing style approachable to normal people interested in the topic of how to build a Green America. Job well Done!

John Lamb has certainly provoded some thoughtful and insightful information in his book. It is obvious that he has had vast experience in the area of energy use and ways that businesses, colleges, and other institutions can both benefit and contribute to energy efficiency, not just cost effectiveness but for an overall interest in productivity. While it is detailed with fine examples, such as Columbia Universities application as well as IBM, it is also informative for larger institutions. (might I suggest government apllications)Graphs were very informative and helpful. As someone who is passionate about improved conservation and use of our natural resources, I found this book inspiring. It suggests practical ways that the visions of Al Gore or Thomas Friedland can be put into practical use. I would suggest this book to responsible energy czars as well as archetects planning for future buildings.
Dr.P.J. Ryan (professor)

This is a very well written book, and I really enjoyed reading it. In addition to providing a comprehensive review of challenges which IT organizations face while managing their carbon foot print and energy consumption, this books provides an excellent set of recommendations and detailed guidance on how business and IT leaders can pursue Green IT soutions. A must read...