Reduce, reuse, recycle – you know the drill by now, but did you know that technology plays a significant role in your business’s environmental impact, too? Green IT is the technology wave of the now, and you had better hope your business is on it.
From maximizing the lifetime of your devices to properly recycling them once they give out, taking a sustainable approach to your technology is about more than simply limiting the number of printouts in your board meeting. In fact, there’s quite a lot that goes into crafting an environmentally friendly technology ecosystem that still works for your business’s needs.
How about we get started, then?
From the experts, here’s what your business should know about green IT.
Green IT, Defined
There’s a tendency among today’s consumers to immediately identify any and all technology use as a green initiative. Because email, video chat, and other forms of digital communication and collaboration cut down on paper waste, travel, and other similarly environmentally harmful practices, we are inclined to believe that by simply opening a laptop we are engaging in sustainable workplace policies.
While there are some truths to this line of thinking, modern interpretations of green IT (and the environmental experts who shape them) tell us that technological innovations, in theory, don’t always add up to green applications in practice.
Green IT, therefore, simply defines the process of constructing business technology programs that use their resources in a more sustainable, environmentally conscious manner. Green IT represents a commitment to applying innovative solutions in a way that is not just good for business but good for our home via well-laid-out corporate initiatives. It is primarily a social contract between organizations, managed service providers, and consumers alike to follow the recommended best practices when it comes to tech.
Green IT, By the Numbers
Suffice it to say, your team’s technology use may not be as green as you believe. Among some of the most staggering statistics about the environmental and ecological impacts of technology are:
- The International Energy Agency reports that data centers make up approximately 1% of global electricity use, equating to 0.3% of global CO2 emissions. (IEA)
- And yet, recent studies show that many organizations significantly underutilize the server space that they currently have. (Granulate)
- There were 57.4 million metric tons of e-waste (i.e. waste from plug-in or battery-operated technological devices like computers) created in 2021 alone. (TheRoundup)
- However, only 17.4% of e-waste is believed to have been properly recycled. (TheRoundup)
Suffice it to say, while they may seem like a drop in the ocean, there are meaningful steps your business can – and should – be taking to mitigate the effects of climate change as caused by technological consumption.
Among them:
Making Your Hardware Last
One of the most straightforward green IT initiatives we can recommend is taking care of your technology. This looks like conserving your battery usage, making necessary software updates, protecting your device from bad actors, and keeping your devices out of the elements. The longer you can maintain the quality of any given machine in your organization, the less waste and emissions you will produce.
Optimizing Your Usage
Similarly, green IT thinking also suggests that businesses should optimize their data storage and computing abilities. When your business purchases more power than it can use, you not only waste your money, but you waste that server space as well, causing providers to keep expanding at a rate that might be damaging to the environment.
Recycling Your Tech Properly
Most governments and municipalities have strict rules and regulations on the disposal of plug-in or battery-operated devices – and for good reason. If you must dispose of a device, ensure that you are doing so correctly and thoughtfully.
Considering Renewable Energy
Committing to solar-powered infrastructure or other renewable energy sources is an investment in the future of your organization and the future of this planet. What’s more, investing in these kinds of technologies could be more cost-effective in the long run as well.
Go Green, Go EMPIST
Sustain your technology usage and you sustain your business.
EMPIST has been providing innovative technology solutions for organizations of all shapes and sizes for over 20 years. From cloud solutions to advanced cybersecurity protections, our experts are here to help you develop an ecosystem that allows you to reach your goals.
To learn more about EMPIST IT Managed Services, visit us online here. Get in touch with a member of our team right now here.