[LINK] Energy measures for e-Tax tender

[Bernard Robertson-Dunn]

Michael Still wrote:
> Bernard Robertson-Dunn wrote:
>> Tom,
>>
>> As far as I can tell this tender is for the development and 
>> maintenance of software. Hardware is out of scope and is probably the 
>> existing ATO environment. There is no indication that any extra 
>> hardware level infrastructure will be required.
>>
>> Can you explain how a software developer can tell how much energy and 
>> CO2 emissions his code will require, given that (s)he has no 
>> knowledge of, or control over, the infrastructure environment on 
>> which it will run?
>
> Well, that's not 100% true. I'm sure many software developers say 
> things like "this system can do XXX transactions per second, per 
> machine". Therefore the design of the system can heavily influence its 
> effect on the environment, largely by forcing the deployment of more 
> machines to make it scale.
>
In which case, the software developer does have knowledge of the 
infrastructure environment on which it will run.

What I said is 100% true, because the ATO infrastructure will be there, 
as is, even if the new software doesn't run on it.

> I wonder what percentage of carbon outputs world wide are from 
> datacenters?

Interesting, but different question.

-- 
 
Regards
brd

Bernard Robertson-Dunn
Canberra Australia
brd at iimetro.com.au