Towards a Sustainable Environment with a Green IoT: An Overview

A green internet of things (GIoT) is conceptualized to reduce the energy consumption of IoT devices/components while keeping the environment safe. The aim of this paper is to provide insights on IoT and GIoT applications, practices, strategies, and challenges toward a sustainable smart environment to a generalist of wireless communications. This paper presents an overview of GIoT applications in various service sectors. The impact of information & communication (ICT) technologies on the environment sustainability is also presented. Strategies which enable realization of a GIoT are demonstrated and discussed. In addition, a power flow model of data center is presented to identify crucial factors for higher energy consumption. Due to a high carbon emissions per captia in Oman (a country in gulf cooperation council (GCC)), we have considered Oman as a case study to present impacts of ICT technologies and RE potential in the region. This paper presents various solar and wind power generation projects as well as electronic waste (e-waste) recycling or reuse strategy adopted by Oman. We also present initiatives undertaken by Oman under a long term vision to achieve an economic diversification and moving away from oil dependence.