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Back to To the Point

To the Point

Is Internet Technology Really 'Clean' Technology?

Internet companies tell computer users their data is stored on "The Cloud," and a lot of them worry it might be disturbed by the weather. In reality, "The Cloud" is million of severs in hundreds of warehouse-sized buildings that can use enough electricity to power a medium-sized town.

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By Warren Olney • May 12, 2014 • 1 min read

Internet companies tell computer users their data is stored on "The Cloud," and a lot of them worry it might be disturbed by the weather. In reality, "The Cloud" is million of severs in hundreds of warehouse-sized buildings that can use enough electricity to power a medium-sized town. The New York Times has created a furor by raising questions about how much energy is wasted to make so much information available 24/7. What about air pollution? Can the IT industry power unstoppable growth, or will it hit a brick wall?

Note: This segment originally aired on September 28, 2012.

  • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

    Warren Olney

    former KCRW broadcaster

  • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

    Frances Anderton

    architecture critic and author

  • Sonya Geis with wavy brown hair wearing a black dress with red accents and decorative earrings against a white background.

    Sonya Geis

    Senior Managing Editor

  • KCRW placeholder

    James Glanz

    New York Times

  • KCRW placeholder

    Andrew Blum

    author of “The Weather Machine” and “Tubes”

  • KCRW placeholder

    Jonathan Koomey

    Stanford University

    NewsNationalPolitics
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