IT heads pressing green button: IDC survey

FRAMINGHAM, USA: Despite some regional differences in priorities and motivators, senior business executives and ICT decision-makers around the world agree that Green IT initiatives are at the top of their agenda.

According to IDC's latest global Green IT survey, executives are getting deeply involved in their companies' green-based initiatives as pressures mount to cut costs and government mandates begin targeting carbon emissions and the disposal of all IT equipment.

IDC polled more than 1,500 C-level business and technology executives across 10 industrial countries (Japan, China, India, Mexico, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Spain, Germany, France, and the United States) to understand what Green IT activities were important to them.

Energy costs continue to be the most pressing factor driving Green IT adoption, even as oil prices drop, the survey says.

"The cost savings associated with reducing power consumption is definitely capturing the attention of IT decision makers around the world," said Vernon Turner, senior vice president, Enterprise Infrastructure, Consumer, and Telecom Research at IDC.

"Buyers understand that energy efficient, recyclable products do contribute to lowering operating costs,” he further added.

Additionally, reduction of hardcopy output and printing is becoming a key green initiative among organizations expanding their green horizons.

Nearly two thirds of the companies surveyed indicated that a shift from print to online is underway at their companies.

Globally, 71 per cent of the respondents identified this as their highest priority.

Among U.S. respondents, 77 per cent identified energy as the most important factor behind green adoption in their companies.

74 per cent of European respondents saw energy concerns as the number 1 driver of green initiatives.