IT energy consumption can represent 10% to 30% of an organization’s office operations – this means that improvements can have a significant impact on the total energy consumption. IT equipment, both in manufacturing and recycling phases, also contributes significantly to toxic waste and polluted water sources around the world.
Benefits of green IT
• 
Reduce your energy costs (by 15%, on average)
• Reduce operating costs by increasing efficiency
• Increase your employee and customer loyalty
• Enable your organization to be sustainable
• Establish lasting change for the planet
Why IT?
IT departments have a significant opportunity to contribute to an organization's sustainability practices by helping to reduce carbon emissions through reducing energy consumption, participating in responsible purchasing practises and providing the infrastructure for green business.
Did you know?
• Global carbon emissions from IT are roughly equal to those of the airline industry.
• About 40% of the heavy metals in landfills come from electronic equipment.
• Roughly 10-30% of an office’s electricity consumption is from IT equipment.
• 80% of people prefer working for a company with environmental values.
How do I get started?
When we were looking for a comprehensive green IT source two years ago we couldn't find one. This inspired us to create the Guide and Toolkit for Sustainable Business to help others, like ourselves, looking to implement a green IT program get started. Check out our products page for more information, including a listing of upcoming webinars. Read more about implementing practices in the "Implementing" article.
Steps
1. Do a ‘Green IT Assessment’ and establish you baseline
2. Set targets and create a strategy
3. Engage your employees
4. Evaluate your program and communicate your efforts
What if I need help?
Our Resources page has many free on-line resources. You may also wish to check out the article titled "Developing Standards and Initiatives", which will provide you with lots of information about what is currently happening in the IT industry.
For purchasers of the Guide and Toolkit for Sustainable Business, the Guide includes many useful resources to assist you through each step and we provide telephone support. We also offer periodic webinars on specific green IT topics.
'Green IT' Defined
There are a host of terms that are used prolifically these days and are often inter-changeable with one another. We have narrowed it down to three terms 'lean IT', 'green IT' and 'sustainable IT' to simplify the discussions in our work. These three areas are the focus of exciting innovation in the IT industry these days and are significantly impacting IT operations departments both large and small. Read more about our definitions of in our article titled 'Opportunities in Lean, Green and Sustainable IT'.
Green computing is often used to refer to using computers, monitors and servers in an energy efficient manner. In this case we have chosen to use the term 'green IT' rather than 'green computing' as it encompasses all of the activities of an IT department including asset management strategies, policies and procedures, support green business as well as energy efficiency.
