Is it possible to align socially responsible concern for the environment with fiscal responsibility? The good news is the answer is ‘yes’. Energy consumption from information technology is a major contributor to global warming, yet according to research from Intel, 80% of businesses have never conducted an energy audit. That’s too bad, since green IT initiatives that help the environment not only reduce your company’s carbon footprint, but can immediately cut energy costs as well.
In fact, a company’s greatest cost savings are not labour-related; rather, approximately 70% typically reflect changes brought about by technology. CTOs have the opportunity to endear themselves to the folks in accounting by making ecologically friendly buying decisions that not only reduce energy waste and emissions but improve the bottom line. And in the process, you can ensure you’re bringing the latest technology into your organisation.
When purchasing new equipment, be sure to look beyond the upfront costs and consider ongoing energy costs as well. More efficient hardware and software operations reduce total cost of ownership (TCO) and translate ‘green as in environment’ to ‘green as in money’. Storage virtualisation and setting up a master customer information database should be top priorities for every CTO.
Eco-friendly trends in blade servers help IT teams manage more and with fewer resources. Blade servers are more efficient than traditional servers and save an average of 25% on power, cooling, space, and other data centre resources. By upgrading your server infrastructure with the most energy-efficient technology available, you can move the workloads from standalone servers and consolidate to fewer machines. In most cases, this will reduce hardware maintenance and software licensing costs.
In the US, the United States Postal Service has not only set a fine example, but has reaped the benefits of going green - and in a big way. By eliminating approximately 1,600 servers, a $2m reduction in hardware maintenance costs was realised over a three-year period. And converting 40% of its workstations to power-saving monitors and energy-efficient units resulted in savings of $250,000.
Purchasing new equipment is not the only way to go green and save money. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, only 36% of workforce PCs are turned off at the end of the workday, and each year, U.S. companies waste an estimated $4bn powering computers that are not being used. Establishing standards to manage computer power consumption, such as setting computers or monitors to sleep mode, means substantial savings - and fewer carbon emissions.
Conducting web-based meetings, allowing employees to telecommute, creating a recycling programme for ink cartridges and working toward a paperless office are additional steps a company can take. The average American employee wastes about $85 worth of printer paper and ink each year through unnecessary printing, a practice that can be eased without spending a dime by switching printer defaults to double sided printing.
Being environmentally conscious and fiscally smart need not be dichotomous. Green IT investments and practices offer predictable, measurable financial benefits, and green technology can deliver an impressive ROI, both in terms of cash savings and environmental benefits.
