Journal of Computer Technology & Applications Original Research

Green and Edge-Aware Computing: Rethinking Cloud Infrastructure for Sustainability

  1. Dipankar Barui Department of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, St. Thomas’ College of Engineering and Technology, Kolkata
  2. Raghunath Maji Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Greater Kolkata College of Engineering and Management, Kolkata
  3. Subhankar Roy Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Seacom Engineering College, Kolkata
  4. Satyajit Maiti Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Swami Vivekananda University, Kolkata
  5. Subhadip Goswami Department of Computer Science and Technology, JIS College of Engineering

Abstract

Cloud computing has transformed the way organizations access and manage information technology resources, providing flexible, scalable, and cost-efficient services that support today’s data-driven world. Despite these advantages, the rapid expansion of large-scale cloud infrastructures has resulted in rising energy consumption, significant heat generation, and a growing environmental footprint. This research focuses on advancing green cloud computing by examining methods that reduce power usage while maintaining high performance. Key strategies include improved virtualization techniques, smarter resource scheduling, and the use of thermal energy recovery systems to repurpose excess heat. In addition, the study highlights the increasing relevance of edge computing as a complementary approach to achieving sustainability. By processing data closer to end devices, edge systems help decrease latency, lower network congestion, and reduce reliance on energy-intensive centralized data centers. To further enhance efficiency, the paper explores various load balancing methods, with particular attention to greedy-based algorithms designed to distribute workload intelligently across edge servers. These techniques support optimal resource allocation, minimize processing delays, and ensure smoother network operations, contributing to a more sustainable and responsive computing environment.

Keywords

  • Cloud-Fog computing
  • Internet of things (IoT)
  • Sustainability
  • green computing
  • virtualization

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