Green IT – Is It Important? Is It Here?
The green IT solutions market is projected to grow to $34.83 billion by 2030, up from $12.46 billion in 2021. These figures signify a significant uptick in the availability and adoption of environmentally sustainable computing resources. Enterprises are actively seeking green IT solutions and apparently, they are finding them too.
Green computing is built upon a basic understanding that the consumption of electricity and the production of heat and noise can be offset by efficient use of resources, such as the deployment of environmentally aware servers and data centers.
In this article, we will take a look at the mainstream advantages of green IT and how it is poised to make a global impact.
What Is Green IT?
Green IT, short for “Green Information Technology,” is a holistic approach to the design, utilization, and management of information technology resources with a primary focus on saving energy, ensuring sustainability, and driving environmental responsibility. It involves the integration of eco-friendly practices and technologies throughout the entire life cycle of information technology, from its design and manufacturing to its use and disposal.
Why Is Green IT Important?
The environment is one of humanity’s most valuable resources, and if we don’t take care of it, the consequences will be disastrous. Not only do we depend on the environment for our survival, but we also need it to create what sustains us.
A growing number of organizations are taking steps to ensure that they’re “green,” and that includes IT companies as well. Here’s a rundown of the most pertinent reasons why green IT is important.
Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Information Communication Technology (ICT) is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for about 2% of global emissions. This is due to the energy required to power and cool data centers, as well as the manufacturing and transportation of IT equipment.
Green IT practices can help to reduce these emissions by promoting the use of renewable energy sources to power data centers, extending the lifespan of IT equipment, and more.
Conserve Resources
The IT sector also consumes a significant amount of natural resources, such as water, minerals, and fossil fuels. Green IT practices can help to conserve these resources by using water-efficient cooling systems for data centers and designing IT equipment to be more energy-efficient and resource-frugal.
Reduce Waste
There’s a significant amount of waste generated by the IT ecosystem. This includes electronic waste (e-waste), which is one of the fastest-growing waste streams in the world. By the end of 2023, roughly 61.3 million metric tons of e-waste will be generated. This number will soar to 74.7 million metric tons by 2030.
E-waste constitutes hazardous materials that can pollute the environment and harm human health. It’s critical that organizations adopt green IT best practices to tackle this problem and ensure that it the waste is disposed of safely and responsibly.
Maximize Energy Efficiency During the Product’s Lifetime
IT products consume a significant amount of energy during their lifetime. From data centers to personal computers, servers, networking equipment, storage devices, office equipment, smartphones, etc., IT products consume energy during operations as well as throughout their lifecycle, i.e., from their manufacturing to disposal.
Green IT practices are necessary to help maximize energy efficiency during the product’s lifetime. They can encourage regular upgradation of hardware per environmental regulations, help design more energy-efficient products, implement energy-saving features in IT equipment, and more.
Encourage Proper Recycling Habits
IT products should be recycled at the end of their life to prevent them from ending up in landfills. Green IT practices can help to encourage proper recycling habits by providing convenient and accessible recycling options and educating employees and customers about the importance of recycling IT products.
How To Achieve Green IT Goals?
Sustainable practices in IT are not just about good intentions but concrete actions. They can help you achieve green IT goals, reduce operational costs, minimize environmental impact, and contribute to a more sustainable and eco-friendly IT landscape.
Here’s a closer look at some of the steps and strategies to achieve green IT goals:
Use Energy-Efficient IT Equipment
Tech Evolution
Invest in the latest energy-efficient IT equipment. Technological advancements have led to the development of devices and hardware (like multicore processors, ENERGY Start Guidelines’ adherent workstations, etc.) that consume significantly less power compared to older models.
From servers to laptops and data center infrastructure, these energy-efficient options can help reduce electricity consumption, cutting both costs and environmental impact.
Virtualization
Embrace virtualization technologies that allow you to consolidate servers and storage, optimizing resource utilization. By running multiple virtual servers on a single physical machine, you can significantly reduce energy consumption and the physical footprint of data centers.
Recycle or Reuse IT Equipment
Create a comprehensive e-waste management program. Properly recycle or refurbish end-of-life IT equipment to prevent hazardous materials from entering landfills. Many components can be reused or repurposed, extending the lifecycle of IT assets and reducing the demand for new manufacturing.
Take Urgent Action to Combat Climate Change
Consider implementing carbon offset programs to neutralize your IT-related carbon emissions. By investing in projects that reduce or capture greenhouse gases, such as reforestation or renewable energy initiatives, you can balance your environmental impact.
Reduce the Dependence on Fossil Fuels & Heavy Metals
Green Energy Sources
Leverage renewable energy sources for data centers and IT infrastructure. Solar, wind, and hydropower can power your IT operations while reducing the reliance on fossil fuels.
Eco-Friendly Materials
Choose IT equipment and components that are free from hazardous heavy metals and other toxic substances like mercury or lead. Opt for products designed with sustainability in mind.
Choose EPEAT Registered Products
Look for products that are registered with the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT). EPEAT-certified products meet specific environmental performance criteria, including energy efficiency and reduced hazardous materials, making them a sustainable choice for your IT environment.
Turn Off Devices That Are Not in Use
Implement power management settings on all devices, including computers, monitors, and peripherals. These settings automatically put devices into low-power modes or shut them down when they are not in use. This practice significantly reduces energy consumption and extends the lifespan of IT equipment.
Wrapping Up
In sum, green IT drives the usage of IT resources in an environmentally sustainable way. It serves to reduce energy consumption, minimize waste, and drive the use of eco-friendly materials. By following green IT practices, businesses can reduce their environmental impact and save money on energy costs.
At i-Source, we believe that green IT is essential for a sustainable future and, as such, help enterprises sustainably achieve their business goals. Connect with us today to learn more.