Just under half (44 percent) of businesses operating within the IT sector have not – as yet – considered a green IT strategy. This is one of the core findings from a survey[1] conducted by The IT Job Board, www.theitjobboard.co.uk.
However, in contrast to the above statistic, more than a third (37 percent) of senior IT professionals questioned, highlighted that their business already has a green IT strategy in place.
The survey indicated that reducing cost was the main business objective for their company implementing a green IT scheme – with almost half (49 percent) stressing this. This compared to 30 percent of respondents who cited that the main purpose for going green was to protect the environment. In support of this finding, more than three quarters (76 percent) of those surveyed did advise of the need for large corporations to become green in order to reduce CO2 emission levels.
When it came to assessing the various approaches businesses take in becoming green, companies actively recycle the following:
- 93 percent - paper
- 68 percent - card
- 62 percent - printer ink cartridges
Two thirds (66 percent) of respondents highlighted that their companies have a policy of turning off computers at the end of the working day.
Almost half of respondents (48%) indicated that a green IT strategy was a crucial factor in reducing their businesses carbon footprint. However, 43 percent believed that the recession had made cost cutting a priority, and that survival in the current climate is more important.
Commenting on the survey, Alex Farrell, managing director of The IT Job Board, said: “Green IT is – understandably – a real ‘hot topic’. I therefore find it interesting to see there is such a divide between organisations in terms of those which are actively implementing green IT strategies, and those who choose not to consider them at all.
“I believe the onus falls firmly on the Government to promote the Green IT agenda, and offer incentives to UK businesses. Only then will this become top-of-mind, and the sector can work towards making a real change.”
[1] 149 surveyed on ‘Green IT’, January 2010
