Sustainable IT: How Business Technology is Helping the Green Industrial Revolution

Introduction

Back in November 2020, the UK government announced a ten-point plan to pursue what they refer to as the “Green Industrial Revolution”.

Practicalities (and political opinions) aside, this new focus on the environment is further proof that the world is becoming a more sustainable place. And, as businesses leveraging technologies which rely on plenty of energy sources, there’s lots of room for UK companies to make a positive impact.

With that in mind, we thought we’d explore the world of sustainable IT, sometimes known as green IT, to discover exactly what’s possible today – and what might be in the future.

How does IT impact the environment?

It may seem at first that sustainable green living and business IT are two worlds which are so far apart as to be in different dimensions. But, if the last few years have taught us anything, it’s that we’re all connected – and more reliant on each other (and the planet) than we might think.

In reality, IT, both hardware and software, do have some level of impact on the environment, whether we like it or not. Consider the servers which require constant power, the laptops which need charging, the energy needed to fuel software development for platforms used by millions of people every day.

Of course, this consumption isn’t really optional anymore – we’re a digital-first society now, and that brings with it lots of benefits. For example, working from home (and therefore relying on IT-based remote systems) has been shown to contribute to a reduction of carbon emissions.

So green IT and digital responsibility isn’t about feeling guilty about our consumption, but rather finding new ways to make better use of the energy we have to get the same results. With that thought front-of-mind, let’s look at some (fairly simple) ways businesses might choose to make a positive environment impact with their IT choices.

Sustainable IT solutions – 4 real-world examples

It’s not just the UK government which is focused on green initiatives: they’re happening all over the globe. From tech giants to small and scrappy eco-startups, the world of technology is undergoing a fundamental shift which will make the future better for all digital citizens.

But how? Here are 4 real-world examples of green IT in action.

1. More sustainable hardware manufacturing practices. Did you know that, according to the UN, the average computer and monitor combo requires 530 pounds of fossil fuels, 48 pounds of chemicals and 1.5 tons of water to produce? It’s not always the use of IT hardware which uses the most energy, but its production.
   
   
2. Re-use and repair old hardware rather than buying new. You’ve probably heard of ‘e-waste’ as a growing problem, and reducing it is part and parcel of creating greener, more sustainable IT practices. Rather than simply throwing old hardware into landfill, companies are increasingly donating old machines to charity or new businesses via the many computer recycling services out there.
   
   
3. More efficient cooling of hardware like servers. Another tangential cost of running IT hardware, especially servers, is the requirement to cool the machines down. If you’ve ever spent time in a server room, you’ll know what we mean. Relying less on energy-based cooling like air conditioning and more on sustainable solutions is the answer here.
   
   
4. Building more power-efficient IT hardware. Dovetailing nicely with the requirement to cool IT hardware is another green approach: simply building tech which runs cooler by design. More efficient CPUs, for example, can reduce the need for energy to cool the machine – just like in Apple’s latest M1 series of chips. In testing, the older Intel chip reached 100c at full load, whereas the latest M1 chip reached just 70c, equating to a 30% reduction in cooling required.
   
   

How can you tweak your IT strategy for sustainability (without compromising everything else)?

It’s clear that there are many different ways you can improve your green IT footprint, but how do you choose what’s right for your business?

Below we’ll share a few ways that UK small businesses can make small changes which contribute towards a greener future (without breaking the bank or changing your processes):

• Make the switch to cloud computing. One of the easiest ways to make a positive impact on your energy consumption is by switching to cloud-based computing solutions It might not be for every business, but if you could make the jump to an end-to-end platform like Microsoft 365, you could eliminate the need for power-hungry servers (and the cooling to go with them).
  
  
• Move to a hybrid working model. Here’s another topic which we’ve discussed at some length in the past, but moving to hybrid working (or even a pure remote model) is a great way to reduce your overall business carbon footprint. Why? Because the fewer employees you have commuting into the office, the lower your overall impact via travel will be.
  
  
• Going remote with client meetings. By foregoing the travel (and carbon emissions) involved in taking client meetings in person, it’s easy to do something sustainable by switching to a remote platform such as Microsoft Teams for your meetings.
  
  
• Switch off your machines when you’re not using them. It’s true that PC technology is very good at reducing power consumption during sleep mode, but sleeping PCs will still draw up to 10 watts of energy. Multiply that over a fleet of PCs and it can add up over time. The best thing to do is to switch off rather than stand by.

Looking for an IT support partner who shares your vision?

At Get Support, we’re all about doing things your way.

If sustainability and green IT is part of your company’s vision for the future, we can help you get there with a detailed IT hardware and software roadmap which supports your goals.

If you’re looking for IT support for your business, we’d love to talk to you about the IT support agreements we offer, and how they could help your business thrive now and in the future.

To learn more about our Managed Service Provider services, or to talk more about how we could help you, call our IT experts today on 01865 59 4000 or just pop your details into the form below.