Green IT’s not just for the corporate sector

Added by The Editor, 10 months ago.

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The public sector needs to focus on greener and more efficient IT, UK Cabinet Office minister Gillian Merron told the European Commission E-government conference in Lisbon this week.

Technology is responsible for up to one billion tonnes of CO2 emissions every year, she told delegates, a similar proportion of global output to that of the airline industry. The UK government's £12 billion annual spend makes it the UK's biggest IT user, she added.

"We have a responsibility to set a positive example on the environment, so I am asking our IT leaders to work with industry to find new ways to improve the sustainability of government computer systems," she said.

"This doesn't just mean reducing the amount of electricity they use, but also looking at how they can be designed and built in ways that consume fewer materials and which make recycling easier."

Our take: It's great that public sector awareness of Green IT issues is on the rise. It's not just private companies that have so much to gain from the cost efficiencies such initiatives create. In order to use taxpayer's money better, it's vital that government invests in Green IT.

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Victoria Furness, 10 months ago

I think one of the most interesting points the minister raises, is that it's not just about focusing on carbon neutral initiatives or reducing the amount of electricity corporates or the public sector use, but also about designing new systems and hardware that are more efficient. Does anyone know of any IT manufacturers leading the way in this regard?