Green Computing

Abstract

Environmental issues are receiving        unprecedented attention from businesses and governments around the world. In a special 2005 address to the World Economic Forum in davos, then-Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Tony Blair, argued that the weight of evidence is such that swift action must be taken to address global warming. This comment came alongside a marked shift in environmental dialogue across societies and in business leadership circles. As concern for climate change and sustainability continues to grow, and actions now ramp up, businesses are grappling with reducing carbon footprints while remaining profitable.

Moreover, in 2009, businesses feel the negative impact of our economic climate. Senior leaders – in the corporate office and in IT – are surveying their businesses for readily achievable cost savings to make up for tightened budgets and profit margins. IT departments, having run lean in the past, are on the hunt for new initiatives that reduce costs without compromising business lue.

Many businesses have discovered that Green computing initiatives offer costs savings benefits while reforming the organization, meeting stakeholder demands and complying with laws and regulations. In this study, IBM and Info-Tech Research Group find that businesses who complete Green computing initiatives realize significant cost savings alongside superior environmental performance.

Green computing: A Working Definition

Green computing is comprised of initiatives and strategies that reduce the environmental footprint of technology. This arises from reductions in energy use and consumables, including hardware, electricity, fuel and paper – among others. Because of these reductions, Green computing initiatives also produce cost savings in energy use, purchases, management and support, in addition to environmental benefits. Beyond cost savings and environmental benefits, some initiatives may address stakeholder and regulatory needs and demands.

For example, server virtualization allows businesses to reduce the capital cost of future server purchases, and the operational costs of energy, maintenance and management. Electricity footprints and the amount of equipment needing future recycling are simultaneously reduced, and often, the business realizes incentives or rebates for saving energy from local utilities or governments.

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