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'Green IT is often driven by top management'

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Supriya Rai
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BANGALORE, INDIA: Green IT, a subject taken more and more seriously by most of the companies now a days believes Green IT as an important issue for sustainable development.

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With growing market for different industries across the globe, it is a common misconception that very few IT companies are focused towards Green IT initiative.

Yes, the progress might be bit slow in India when compared European countries, but big companies in India are showing interest to embrace Green IT in their companies.

Recently, Europe's No.1 ICT consultancy, Devoteam completed a survey on Green IT and found that 82 percent of larger organisations (10,000+ employees) have already initiated a Green IT programme, yet the figure drops to 44% for SMEs (under 100 employees).

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Claire Allain, a Consultant for Devoteam, believes Green IT is often driven by top management: "Progressively, Green IT is gaining visibility in every organisation. The challenge is to expand its scope, its ambition and to make the workforce aware of it. To be a real success, senior management has to sponsor this initiative and promote a sustainable vision."

Cloud Computing

For Cloud Computing the survey reveals that it will only become green if it is designed and managed in an eco-responsible way and achieves maximum shared use. To aid this quest, datacenters report a 7-point increase (55%) for server virtualisation and a 9-point increase (28%) for electricity consumption control.

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Solutions also abound to reduce energy consumed by workstations. In the UK, 41% of the organisations asked have implemented one by comparison with 43% in Germany and in stark contrast to only 19% in France.

Waste Management

On waste management (WEEE) the survey shows that office printing as an issue has largely been resolved, with Germany topping the table in terms user awareness of good practice. Increased use of recycled paper has risen from 27% in 2011 to 36%. That said, 69% of the surveyed organisations still do not know how much waste they generate!

On distance working, 64% of respondents use audio conferencing and 53% video conferencing - a most encouraging result given that the WWF has found that 50% of organisations' CO2 emissions come from business travelling. On average, working from home two days a week could lower an employee's carbon footprint by 10%.

Alan Greenberg, Managing Director of Devoteam UK concludes: "Devoteam's European survey confirms the progress achieved by Green IT within organisations of any size. However, specific challenges such as WEEE and datacenters with Cloud Computing remain. Importantly, Green IT is no longer perceived as a cost reduction initiative, but more than ever one where development strategy and corporate responsibility align closely."

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