Green IT is the practice of using information technology procedures, products and services in an environmentally responsible manner. It means that everything related to computing, from design, manufacturing, use and disposal, is done with minimal impact on the environment.
By adopting green IT initiatives, businesses can become greener and significantly reduce their environmental footprint. However, the main reason why Green IT is catching on is not due to the sudden eco-enlightenment of big business. Skyrocketing energy bills, expanding carbon footprints, and other environmental issues cost businesses a lot of money, and green IT can deliver big savings. So big that Forrester research predicts the green IT consulting market will hit $4.8 billion by 2013
So why do we need green IT, really?
IT’s global carbon dioxide emissions are said to be equal to the emissions produced by the airline industry. Imagine their contribution to global warming!
In an average office, IT alone consumes more than 30 percent of the electricity used. We can go green IT by switching to low-power servers and hosting equipment that consumes less power. Small changes like switching to LCD monitors from CRTs that are notorious for their power consumption make a pretty significant difference. When we throw away old equipment, it’s a good idea to have it recycled by a transparent e-waste management agency, like GreenCitizen. It’s also important to employ power management features that automatically turn off hard drives and displays after a certain period of inactivity.
Green IT Benefits
With the carbon dioxide emissions impact of IT outpacing those of the airline industry, the adoption of green IT initiatives by companies around the world can have a significant impact. But greening corporate IT infrastructures doesn’t just benefit the planet, it also benefits the business:
- Green IT can significantly reduce energy costs
- Green IT can reduce operating costs and increase efficiency
- Green IT can have a positive impact on employee loyalty to work in a company with strong CSR values
- Green IT can improve customer loyalty, as people like to do business with companies that are environmentally conscious.
Green Computing vs. Green IT
Green computing and green IT are closely interrelated, but they are not the same. Green computing is about using computing resources efficiently, while green IT is not just about computing but also includes management strategies and procedures, supporting green business, and energy efficiency. There are two types of technologies when it comes to green IT. According to Forrester Research, the first one is ‘Green IT 1.0’ which deals with industry green infrastructure such as virtualization and power management. The second is ‘Green IT 2.0’ which deals with helping companies to go green by focusing on things like video conferencing or supply chain management software.
How to have a green impact on IT
The first initiatives towards green IT took place in 1992 with the formation of the voluntary labeling program known as Energy Star by the US Environmental Protection Agency, which was designed to promote and recognize climate control devices, energy efficiency monitors and other environmentally friendly technologies. Today, the Energy Star label is commonly found on PCs, laptops, and monitors.
Government agencies around the world are taking steps to promote green computing, but it is not only the responsibility of governments but also of individuals and private organizations. The work habits of any computer user and company can be modified to adopt green IT as a general practice. Here are some comprehensive ways to promote green IT:
virtualization– through virtualization, several physical systems can be combined into a single powerful system; this will allow the original hardware to be disconnected, reducing cooling needs and power consumption. Several companies are now switching to virtualization, such as Intel and AMD.
telecommunications– Thanks to videoconferences, workers can telework as well as hold long-distance meetings without sharing physical space. It offers many benefits such as a significant reduction in overall costs for office space, lighting, etc. It is easier to communicate with the customer without physical presence being a requirement and increases worker satisfaction.
power management– Power consumption can be reduced by installing a system that automatically turns off hardware and monitors after a set period of inactivity, allowing significant reductions in electricity and heat consumption.
paper reduction– Email reduces the use of fax machines and consequently saves paper. Discourage the printing of documents and encourage the use of electronic documents, as it will eliminate the use of toner and paper. Keeping electronic records also saves the company from having a significant paper trail.
Green Data Centers
If you run a business, chances are you own your own data center or are using/leasing one offsite. Data centers are the backbone of a business. It is where a company stores, organizes, and backs up its data on servers. The primary asset of any organization is its data, and keeping it running 24/7 with less than 1% downtime allowed is critical to survival.
Servers in data centers consume power at two ends: servers and cooling. Servers run 24/7, consuming the power they need to do their jobs. Because the servers are online all the time, the machines tend to get hot and this creates a potential security hazard and increases the chances of machines crashing sooner. To prevent this, heavy cooling systems are installed in data centers to keep servers cool and running. By the way, this cooling system usually consumes more energy than the servers themselves.
Because cooling is also a 24/7 job, energy consumption is formidable, especially when combined with the consumption of servers and other related equipment.
With all of that being said, a green data center not only saves energy, but also reduces operating costs. Listed below are some key takeaways from a recent report released by Research and Markets in August 2009 that highlights the importance of greening our data centers.
- Switching to low-power ‘green’ PCs and turning off PCs at night would equate to an annual savings of around £305,000 for a typical FTSE 200 company.
- Computers in ‘sleep’ mode use 60-70% less power than PCs without it, which equates to a savings of $15-$40 in energy costs per PC per year.
- Data centers around the world waste 875 million kWh of energy each year, which is equivalent to 436 million kilograms of CO2. The number of servers in data centers is increasing annually by 18%.
- Server virtualization in the data center can increase efficiency, dramatically reduce power consumption, and deliver significant cost savings.