Energy-Efficient Computing: Innovations in Hardware and Software for Sustainable Advanced Computing Systems

Abstract

As global demand for computational power rises, driven by advancements in AI, big data, and cloud computing, the energy consumption of computing systems is becoming a critical issue. Data centers, high-performance computing systems, and complex algorithms consume significant amounts of electricity, increasing carbon emissions and operational costs. Traditional architectures that prioritize performance over energy efficiency are unsustainable, leading to the growing importance of energy-efficient computing. This paper reviews the latest hardware and software innovations aimed at reducing energy consumption while maintaining performance. On the hardware side, advancements like low-power processors, energy-efficient accelerators (GPUs, TPUs), and improved semiconductor materials (e.g., GaN, SiC) contribute to lower energy use. In software, techniques such as algorithmic optimization, dynamic voltage and frequency scaling (DVFS), and power-aware computing are crucial for reducing energy demands. The integration of hardware and software through co-design methodologies further enhances energy efficiency. This paper provides a comprehensive review of these developments, discussing the challenges and strategies for improving energy-efficient computing systems.