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In this issue
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Green Computing: From Wikipedia, the free
encyclopedia
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Take A Giant Step - tips from the University of
Colorado Environmental Center
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Which Camp Are You In?
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The Warm and Fuzzies
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Quick Links
Accounting systems can do a lot more these days.
There are now a number of exciting, powerful
applications that allow you to do your
accounting online. But what do you do if you're
running a legacy application that doesn't have a
Web component yet or that will never have a Web
component?
Consider trying
an InsynQ
Virtual Desktop, part of our e-Accounting
line.
The idea behind the Virtual Desktop is that you
open a browser window into what looks and
behaves exactly like a typical Windows desktop,
even if you're accessing it from a Mac or Linux
PC. You are actually making a seamless,
transparent connection to a high-speed,
commercial server at our data center across the
Internet. You run the hosted Windows
applications on the Virtual Desktop, then save
the data to the data-center server or to a local
hard drive.
What's great about this is that you can have
InsynQ host the accounting application of your
choice on a Virtual Desktop, then access it via
the Web.
You have all the mobility and flexibility of
Web-based applications combined with the appearance
and behavior of a disk-based application you already
know.
Even better, suppose you like
QuickBooks Pro but not QuickBooks Online
Edition? InsynQ already has several accounting
disk-based accounting applications set up for you to
work with in their e-Accounting line; all you need
to do is supply the licenses.
There are some other advantages, too: Accountants
can
network with their clients directly as if
everyone was on the same LAN and they can even take
control of your to show you what it looks like
when they step through an operation (like remote
control software). You also have greater flexibility
for saving, backing up, and migrating your data to a
new application because you can save data in your
preferred formats and locations.
All this boils down to some quite amazing potential
for accounting and other office productivity
applications. Bear in mind that you must have
appropriate software licenses to do this and the
application must work in this environment (most do,
but some don't). This also isn't always as cheap as
running a Web-based application or buying a
disk-based one (prices vary depending on a wide
range of conditions, so check our
e-Accounting site), but if you know what you
like and you want to add the value of the Web, this
may be the very thing you've been looking for.
Get more information today
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Green Computing is the study and
practice of
using computing resources
efficiently. Typically, technological systems or
computing products that incorporate green computing
principles take into account the so-called triple
bottom line of economic viability, social
responsibility, and environmental impact. This differs
somewhat from traditional or standard business practices
that focus mainly on the economic viability of a
computing solution. These focuses are similar to those
of green chemistry; reduction of the use of hazardous
materials such as lead at the manufacturing stage,
maximized energy efficiency during the product's term of
use, and recyclability or biodegradability of both a
defunct product and of any factory waste.
A typical green computing solution attempts to address
some or all of these factors by implementing
environmentally friendly products in an efficient
system. For example, an IT manager might purchase
EPEAT approved hardware combined with a
thin client solution. As compared to a traditional
desktop PC configuration, such a configuration would
probably reduce IT maintenance-related activities,
extend the useful life of the hardware, and allow for
responsible recycling of the equipment past its useful
life.
In 1992, the EPA provided Energy Star, a voluntary
labeling program, designed to promote and recognize
energy-efficiency in monitors, climate control
equipment, and other technologies. This resulted in,
among other things, the widespread adoption of sleep
mode among consumer electronics. The term Green
Computing was probably coined shortly after the Energy
Star program began, and generally referred to power
consumption-related issues. There are several USENET
posts dating back to 1992 which use the term in this
manner. Fueled by recent trends towards sustainability,
the modern use of the term refers to systematic
approaches to using computing technology efficiently.
These include items such as addressing eWaste,
regulatory compliance, telecommuting policies,
virtualization of server resources, cost accounting of
energy use, thin client solutions, and many others.
Fueled by recent trends towards sustainability, the
modern use of the term refers to systematic approaches
to using computing technology efficiently. These include
items such as addressing eWaste, regulatory compliance,
telecommuting policies,
virtualization of server resources, cost accounting
of energy use, thin client solutions, and many others.
Print as little as possible. Review and modify documents
on the screen and use print preview. Minimize the number
of hard copies and paper drafts you make. Instead of
printing, save information to disks.
Recycle waste paper.
Buy and use recycled paper in your printers and copiers.
From an environmental point of view, the best recycled
paper is 100 percent post consumer recycled content.
Save e-mail whenever possible and avoid needless
printing of e-mail messages.
Use e-mail instead of faxes or send faxes directly from
your computer to eliminate the need for a hard copy.
When you must fax using hard copies, save paper using a
"sticky" fax address note and not a cover sheet.
On larger documents, use smaller font sizes (consistent
with readability) to save paper.
If your printer prints a test page whenever it is turned
on, disable this unnecessary feature.
Before recycling paper, which has print on only one
side, set it aside for use as scrap paper or in printing
drafts.
When documents are printed or copied, use double-sided
printing and copying. If possible, use the multiple
pages per sheet option on printer properties.
When general information-type documents must be shared
within an office, try circulating them instead of making
an individual copy for each person. This can also be
done easily by e-mail.
The implementation of a quality
document management system can mean the difference
between success and failure when trying to "green up"
your organization. Find out how paperless office
technologies can benefit you AND the environment.
How You and Your Clients Benefit
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