Books & Publications

This page compiles notable books, academic papers, reports, and other publications focused on green IT, sustainable software development, and related topics. These resources provide in-depth knowledge and research findings to help you deepen your understanding of sustainable computing practices.

Books

Comprehensive Green IT Resources

Green IT: Technologies and Applications by Jae H. Kim and Myung J. Lee (2021) Link to Publisher

This comprehensive reference covers both the theoretical foundations and practical applications of green computing. Kim and Lee bring together contributions from leading researchers to address energy-efficient hardware, sustainable software design, and green networking technologies, making it suitable for both practitioners and researchers.

Greening IT: How Greener IT Can Form a Solid Base For a Low-Carbon Society by Adrian Sobotta, Irene Sobotta, and John Gøtze (2010) Link to Free PDF

Though older, this still-relevant book examines how information technology can support environmental sustainability while reducing its own footprint. Available as a free download, it addresses policy considerations, organizational governance, and specific technical approaches to greening IT infrastructure.

Software-Specific Resources

Building Green Software: A Sustainable Approach to Software Development and Operations by Anne Currie, Sarah Hsu and Sara Bergman (2024) Link to Publisher

A practical guide for software developers wanting to build more sustainable web applications. Lewis and Adams (from the Green Web Foundation) provide specific techniques for measuring and reducing the energy consumption of web applications, including code-level optimizations and infrastructure considerations.

Academic Papers and Research

Foundational Research

"Energy Efficiency across Programming Languages: How Do Energy, Time, and Memory Relate?" by Rui Pereira et al. (2017) Link to Paper

This comprehensive study compares the energy efficiency of 27 programming languages, providing empirical data on how language choice affects energy consumption. The research challenges common assumptions about performance and energy relationships, making it essential reading for developers concerned with software efficiency.

Green AI by Roy Schwartz et al. (2020) Link to Paper

This influential paper from the Allen Institute for AI argues for a shift in artificial intelligence research to prioritize computational efficiency alongside accuracy. The authors propose metrics and methodologies for evaluating the environmental impact of AI systems and suggest approaches for more sustainable machine learning.

Journals and Regular Publications

Environmental Science and Technology American Chemical Society Journal Website

This peer-reviewed journal regularly publishes research on the environmental impact of digital technologies. It covers topics including electronic waste management, energy efficiency of IT systems, and lifecycle assessment methodologies for digital products.

IEEE Transactions on Sustainable Computing IEEE Computer Society Journal Website

This specialized journal focuses on energy-efficient computing, sustainable IT infrastructure, and related technologies. It publishes original research, case studies, and reviews addressing all aspects of sustainable computing, from hardware design to software optimization.

The Journal of Cleaner Production Elsevier Journal Website

While not exclusively focused on IT, this journal regularly publishes research on sustainable digital technologies and green IT practices. It takes an interdisciplinary approach to sustainability, examining environmental, economic, and social dimensions of technology use.

Finding Additional Resources

For the most current research and publications in green IT, consider exploring these sources:

  • ACM Digital Library - The Association for Computing Machinery's comprehensive collection includes numerous papers on sustainable computing from conferences and journals
  • IEEE Xplore - IEEE's digital library contains thousands of papers related to green IT, energy-efficient computing, and sustainable electronics
  • arXiv - This open-access repository often includes preprints of cutting-edge research in sustainable computing before formal publication

These collections are continuously updated with new research, making them valuable resources for staying current with developments in the field.