Recently, the news which stunned all the Google users across the planet, was just a misquoted one. A Harvard researcher said that a British newspaper misquoted his research covering the carbon footprint caused by running Web sites.
The Sunday Times wrote that performing two Google searches from a desktop computer can generate the same amount of harmful carbon dioxide as boiling an electric kettle for a cup of tea where 7 grams of carbon dioxide (CO2) gas is evolved during one search. The figure was attributed to a forthcoming research paper authored by Alex Wissner-Gross, who is a fellow at Harvard's Center for the Environment.
But Google quickly contested the estimate, writing that its own research put the figure at 0.2 gram of CO2. Wissner-Gross also says that he did not commit any figure as 7gm per search etc., Wissner-Gross said one of The Sunday Times writers seemed eager to confirm the 7-gram figure and link it to Google. The researcher also added that he did not do so. Wissner-Gross said he saw a draft of the story before publication and suggested some changes, but those edits were not made.Wissner-Gross said there is a positive angle to the incident, given the wide publicity of the story. "I think that the has actually woken up and discovered green IT," he said.
The Sunday Times wrote that performing two Google searches from a desktop computer can generate the same amount of harmful carbon dioxide as boiling an electric kettle for a cup of tea where 7 grams of carbon dioxide (CO2) gas is evolved during one search. The figure was attributed to a forthcoming research paper authored by Alex Wissner-Gross, who is a fellow at Harvard's Center for the Environment.
But Google quickly contested the estimate, writing that its own research put the figure at 0.2 gram of CO2. Wissner-Gross also says that he did not commit any figure as 7gm per search etc., Wissner-Gross said one of The Sunday Times writers seemed eager to confirm the 7-gram figure and link it to Google. The researcher also added that he did not do so. Wissner-Gross said he saw a draft of the story before publication and suggested some changes, but those edits were not made.Wissner-Gross said there is a positive angle to the incident, given the wide publicity of the story. "I think that the has actually woken up and discovered green IT," he said.
Oh thanks for following up on this. I too read this story in the Times of India and was wondering about the massive numbers. I didnt see the correction in the times the next day and am only seeing it here on your blog today.
Thanks for your valuable comments!! lvs