Green IT – the burning issue for business

'Green IT' is a catch-all phrase for sustainable, eco-friendly products, services, practices and management systems used in the information and communications technology sector.

Greater environmental awareness coupled with pressures from consumers, legislators, and rising fuel costs, is pushing the IT community towards Green IT.

It is becoming progressively more important for all businesses to act (and to be seen to act) in an environmentally responsible manner, both to fulfill their legal and moral obligations, but also to enhance the brand and to improve corporate image. IT has a large part to play in all this.

The Copenhagen influence

Since the Copenhagen Summit, the argument for reducing carbon emissions has never been more apparent . Negotiations have captured the attention of citizens from countries large and small, stirring much debate and angst as world leaders try to devise a plan to prevent - or at least ease - climate change.

The IT arena will not be excluded from the impact on business that the outcomes of this summit will bring. The necessity to become more ‘Green’ will result in the business case for ‘Green IT’ developing further. Its role in improving IT cost-effectiveness, whilst reducing the organization’s carbon footprint will only get stronger over the years to come.

Make sure you and your IT department are prepared for these impacts. Use the following resources to help you understand why and how to make your IT ‘Green’.

The essential ISO14001 EMS Toolkit

This unique ISO14001 EMS Environmental Management System Documentation Toolkit contains a full suite of documentation templates that will help you prepare for and implement an environmental management system (EMS) that complies with ISO14001, the environmental management system standard.

This ISO14001 EMS environmental management system toolkit is suitable for all organisations. The policy and procedure templates are generally applicable, across all industries, and the specific guidance on green office and green IT are relevant to virtually every business, as virtually every business uses IT and has offices!

The toolkit has just been announced as a Green IT Awards 2011 finalist. See www.greenitawards.com for more information.