Optimization

Explore the Mind Map to learn about Optimization!

The second main principle of approaches that use ICT to enable emissions savings is optimization, which is a very general term that leaves room for interpretation. To clarify this term, optimization makes things more efficient regarding to energy consumption or the usage of other resources. In opposition to the concept of dematerialization, the focus of the principle of optimization is not the replacement of things by ICT. In this case, ICT enables improvements in energy consumption and emissions reductions by making units or processes more efficient. Therefore, in the taxonomy the optimization potential of ICT is split up into unit efficiency and the optimization of processes. The first taxon groups together approaches which improve the energy efficiency of machines, production units, devices or any other physical object. Process optimization is divided into two main concepts, where automation is one and coordination the other. Automation makes use of technology to execute tasks without the need for manpower. Alongside production processes this principle is also used in lighting systems in buildings for example. The taxon coordination stands for improved coordination of processes and work flows by using information and communication technology. This involves computer applications used to optimize transport routes, as well as smart grids developed to coordinate energy supply more efficiently.

Optimization can also be considered as making things smart, as ICT enables to build smart motor systems and to improve energy efficiency in buildings and transport by smart buildings and smart logistics [1]. One the one hand the term smart stands for a kind of intelligence that inheres these improved units or processes, on the other hand The Climate Group defines the actions the ICT sector can take to improve the global emissions situation by the five letters of SMART [2]:

• Standardization of how energy consumption and information about emissions can be traced and made accessible throughout different processes in economy. 
• Monitoring of energy consumption and emissions in real time. 
• Accountability for energy consumption and emissions should be established beside other business priorities. This can be achieved by the application of network tools. 
• Rethinking about how we should live, learn, play and work in a low carbon society, enabled by ICT as an information platform, which can also help working together to gain efficiency improvements. 
• Transformation of the economy will happen if the enabling effect of ICT can be turned to account. 

This assessment of The Climate Group concerning the optimization potential of ICT suggests that Information Technology can support and enable a transformation process to a low carbon economy and society in a great extent. But this implies the acceptance and commitment of other economic sectors and governments.

References

[1] The Climate Group. Smart 2020: Enabling the low carbon economy in the information age. Technical report, The Climate Group on behalf of the Global e-Sustainability Initiative (GeSI), 2008.

[2] The Climate Group. Smart 2020 report summary. Technical report, The Climate Group on behalf of the Global e-Sustainability Initiative (GeSI), 2008.

Dematerialization

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One important feature of ICT regarding to sustainable development is dematerialization. The SMART 2020 report published by The Climate Group in 2008 postulates a “strong emphasis on the significant opportunities offered by dematerialisation” and states in this context: “Our study indicates that using technology to dematerialise the way we work and operate across public and private sectors could deliver a reduction of 500 MtCO2e in 2020 - the equivalent of the total ICT footprint in 2002, or just under the emissions of the UK in 2007.” [1] A graphical illustration of this estimation is given in figure 4.2.
This indicates that the potential of emissions savings through dematerialization is estimated to be quite large. It could also be a main concept to arrange further growth and development with a lower intensity of environmental impact. This implies a higher level of efficiency achieved by learning by experience and a declining consumption of goods and energy because of dematerialization [2].

Figure 4.2: The potential impact of dematerialization [1] 

When dealing with dematerialization enabled by ICT, it has to be distinguished between products and routes of transport, although the borders between these categories are not completely sharp. For example the e-initiatives of governments (e-government) could be classified by both taxa, because they dematerialize the use of paper, as well as routes of transport, since citizens save travel ways to governmental departments by using online services. In this taxonomy the approach of the e-government is classified as dematerializing routes of transport, because the paperless office is considered as a separate concept, which is obviously a product-dematerializing concept.

Although the ability to replace physical products and processes is assumed to be one of the big environmental benefits of ICT, there is some kind of uncertainty regarding to the real potential of dematerialization in the future. The success of every kind of technology strongly depends on adoption, which cannot be predicted in preposition [1]. As an example, the idea of the paperless office goes back to the age of early personal computers in the 1970’s [3], but its distribution is still in development due to difficulties in adoption. With the introduction of electronic mail the usage of paper was expected to decline, but users tended to print their mails at the office, so that paper consumption actually increased [4]. Therefore the future impact of dematerialization will among other things depend on the inertia of consumer habits and the incentives for adoption for businesses.

References

[1] The Climate Group. Smart 2020: Enabling the low carbon economy in the information age. Technical report, The Climate Group on behalf of the Global e-Sustainability Initiative (GeSI), 2008.

[2] J.H. Ausubel and P.E. Waggoner. Dematerialization: Variety, caution, and persistence. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), vol. 105 no. 35:12774–12779, 2008.

[3] Business Week. The office of the future. Business Week, June 1975.
http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/may2008/tc20080526_547942.htm 
Accessed: 2013-02-12.

[4] A. J. Sellen and R. H. R. Harper. The myth of the paperless office. MIT Press, 2003.