The operating system I use in my PC and the packaging system I use under Mac OS X have many neat features and advantages. They have, however, one major drawback.
The promotion of compilation from source code to build packages makes people tend to leave their computers turned on for extended periods of time. Leaving a PC turned on means increased energy consumption; for instance, people often leave their computers working on compilation (or worse: idle) during a whole night.
Seen from this perspective, distributions that promote compilation of packages from source code are less eco-friendly than distribution with binary packages.
Every user of a source-code-oriented distribution should use it responsibly vis-à-vis energy consumption. For instance, I try to compile packages only while I am using my PC for some other purpose, which happens to be easy since my PC is my TV set, HiFi system, wireless access point... and yes, home computer! I try to never leave my PC turned on during nights and while being away.
I believe that much energy is being wasted by computers that are left turned on needlessly, and that bugs me awfully. P2P applications also promote waste of energy (from the point of view expressed here). The myth that hard disk lifetime is shortened by turning it on and off further contributes. Finally, laziness preventing people from routinely booting and halting their systems is perhaps the worst of all shameless and useless energy sinks.
So dear responsible user: turn your computer off, Pachamama will thank you.
Discussion (1)