Grant Sewell, e-Management

“Going Green” is an important part of business for any technology operation these days. Recently, we have implemented a number of strategies in my office to help answer questions. But the truth is, many people only know the buzzword, and not the concepts that define it. In our 2009 blog, “Is Green the New Black?” we gave an overview of benefits of green operations for businesses, as well as a number of resources to find out more information. In this thread, I’m going to focus on what green means to information technology (IT), the important areas on which to concentrate, and some of the strategies that will yield the highest return on investment (ROI).

Green IT is More than Turning Off Lights
Many people look at implementing green policies as actions, like turning off lights when leaving an office, or enabling power saving features on a computer. In fact, that’s just one part of a larger process. Environmentally sustainable computing methods are joined in a lifecycle:

Design: Simple designs, non-proprietary parts, and efficiency certifications such as TCO  ensure that products can be used and maintained more productively in the workplace.

Manufacturing:  Technology that is built with recycled or less hazardous materials yield a more environmentally-friendly product. Studies estimate that manufacturing accounts for 70 percent of the natural resources utilized in the lifetime of a computer.

Usage: Configuring computer systems, printers and other peripherals for optimal efficiency during operation can save a company more than 25% in power expenses alone.

Disposal: Appropriately recycling or disposing of equipment at end of life ensures that the overall ecological footprint is reduced, such as landfill reduction and equipment re-use and re-purposing.

If you’re just getting started, you are probably not just going to throw away perfectly good, working equipment to buy something new and shiny – and that’s okay. A lot of the initial changes will be made in the “Usage” and “Disposal” phases, but too many organizations overlook the impact they have when selecting what to purchase.

Fact vs. Fiction
The concept of Green IT began in 1992 when the EPA and the U.S. Department of Energy launched Energy Star, a program designed to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. As technology has advanced, companies are realizing they can do just as much (or more) with less. Let’s debunk some popular myths:

Green hardware isn’t powerful enough: Using less power doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice performance. Using technologies like solid-state drives (SSD) and high efficiency power supplies will reduce power consumption and increase performance.

It won’t make a difference:  Technology represents 4 percent of the overall power consumption in the United States. Implementing green procedures can save you money, reduce management requirements and promotes a responsible image of your organization.

It’s more expensive: Okay, this one may be true – kind of. Many green technologies will burn a hole in your pocket (initially), but don’t rule them out before you see how they will benefit your budget and decrease in costs over the long run.

It’s too much work: The changes don’t have to be dramatic to make a difference. In Part II, I’ll highlight options that won’t take much manpower.

Your Thoughts?
Please be sure to stop by next week for the final installment (Part II) of this Green IT blog series, when I will discuss how you can get big results, with little effort.

In the meantime, we want to hear from you. What has your organization done to “Go Green?” Do you have other strategies to share? What actions were the most beneficial? How critical do you think “Green IT” will be in the next 5 years?