Green computing is the study and practice of using computing resources efficiently. The primary objective of such a program is to account for the “triple bottom line” (People, Planet, Profit), an expanded spectrum of values and criteria for measuring organizational (and societal) success. The goals are similar to green chemistry; which is trying to reduce the use of hazardous materials, maximize energy efficiency during the product's lifetime, and promote recyclability or biodegradability of products and factory waste. Modern IT systems rely upon a complicated mix of people, networks and hardware; as such, a green computing initiative must be systemic in nature, and address increasingly sophisticated problems. Elements of such as solution may comprise items such as end user satisfaction, management restructuring, regulatory compliance, disposal of waste, telecommuting, virtualization of server resources, energy use, thin client solutions, and return on investment (ROI).

Virtualization and Server Based Computing reduces emissions, by utilizing fewer servers, power and cooling and providing a low-power/low-cost thin client on the users desktop. All while centralizing and streamlining administration and providing high availability. Computers overall now account for about 2% of worldwide energy usage. By the end of 2008, according to Gartner, Inc. analysts, half of the world’s datacenters won’t have enough energy capacity to meet the power and cooling requirements of the latest high-density computing equipment, such as blade servers. In addition, Gartner estimates that energy bills, which traditionally have accounted for less than 10% of an overall IT budget, soon could account for more than half. In the U.S., for example, consumption of electricity by IT has doubled since 2000 and now comprises 3% of total electricity consumed nationally. Electrical power for datacenter servers is only part of the problem. Non-IT devices also consume datacenter power, including transformers, uninterruptible power supplies, power wiring, fans, air conditioners, pumps, humidifiers, and lighting

A new virtual machine can be provisioned as needed without the need for up-front hardware purchase. Also, virtual machine can be easily re-located from one physical machine to another as needed. For example, a sales person going to a customer can copy a virtual machine with the demonstration software to its laptop, without the need to transport the physical computer. At the same time and error inside a virtual machine does not harm a host system, so there is no risk of breaking down the OS in said laptop.