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Companies are increasingly embracing environmentally friendly IT. This trend has barely, if at all, been driven by green legislation.
Many government agencies moved to encourage green IT through programmes such as Energy Star, the Reduction of Hazardous Substances directive, the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment directive and the EU’s Voluntary Code of Conduct for Data Centre Operators.
Yet companies remain confused about the EU’s IT regulations. Often not enough has been done to publicise or reinforce the current laws.
Sustainability reporting is increasing steadily. However, some moves, such as membership of the EU Voluntary Code of Conduct for Data Centre Operators, have no repercussions if members fail to meet emission targets or report energy use.
Ranking products with a government-backed Energy Star rating is an OK starting point, but Energy Star has many drawbacks and should not be used independently as a gauge for energy consumption.
For example, a 15in and 21in computer monitor may have the same Energy Star ranking, but the 21inch monitor may consume a great deal more energy.
Instead of just buying Energy Star-compliant products and stopping there, companies also need to teach their employees about how to use the equipment responsibly. Behavioural change is just as important as product change.
Who knows exactly how "green" a product is? What sort of features and functions should a device have for it to be accredited as environmentally friendly? Green legislation has a way to go before it can set standards for greener business practice in the EU.
Our industry needs a green classification system that reflects all the parameters for environmental friendliness – the true energy consumption of equipment and the environmental impact of its production and disposal, among others.
Intelligent disposal of IT equipment is important but it is crucial to manufacture products so they can be easily recycled. This encompasses product design, reduction of hazardous substances in manufacturing, and product operation.
Buyers and end users should consider the life cycle of a product from development to decommissioning.
The rest will follow. If a product is truly green, energy savings translate into a real cost saving and green will pay its way.
Melvyn Wray is senior vice president of product marketing at Allied Telesis
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