Green IT
Sustainability in the IT sector
7 May, 2021 by
Green IT
manaTec GmbH, Sophia Grünig
 


Sustainability - a word we increasingly encounter in our lives and which we associate in everyday language with longevity and environmental protection.

The fact that the buzzword sustainability is playing an increasingly important role in the social, political and economic debate is demonstrated not only by Agenda 30, which was adopted in 2015 with its 17 sustainability goals by the United Nations, and movements such as "Fridays for Future," but also by current election polls for the 2021 federal elections. Environmental awareness and sustainability are no longer just an individual lifestyle of individuals or a consumer trend; they are increasingly becoming a social movement and also a central economic factor.

As early as the 18th century, people began to think about acting consciously, responsibly and in a way that conserves resources. This idea of sustainability originated in forestry, as the Freiberg chief miner Hans Carl von Carlowitz (1645-1714) recommended in his book that no more wood should be harvested than can grow back - in other words, that the resources of the forest should be conserved so that there will be enough wood to harvest in the future. Over time, this principle spread to all kinds of areas and developed into a three-pillar model that combines aspects of sustainable action from the ecological, economic and social spheres.

Sustainability extends into all areas of life, and requires joint actions.
Sustainability extends into all areas of life, and requires joint actions.

If you look for efforts to integrate sustainability in the world of IT, you will quickly come across the term Green IT. But what does it mean and what does it entail?

Although the beginnings of green IT can be found in the 1990s, it did not come to the fore until the 2000s with the spread of the Internet and the associated increase in energy and resource consumption.

In 2017, electricity consumption by information and communications technology amounted to around 58.4 terawatt hours (TWh), accounting for two percent of total electricity consumption in Germany. That may not sound like much, but experts estimate that the power consumption of data centers alone will increase by more than 60 percent between 2015 and 2025. Complex and rapidly advancing developments in digitization such as artificial intelligence or blockchain technology are contributing to this consequence of the digital transformation. And at this point, Green IT is supposed to counteract this development. Its goal is not to restrict digital applications, but to use technology in a way that conserves resources.

Green IT can be summarized as a collective term for environmentally compatible technology products and services as well as all efforts to use information and communications technologies in an environmentally friendly and resource-conserving manner. These efforts extend from production and operation to disposal or reuse.

Manufacturers and users of information and communications technology (ICT) can contribute to the realization of the concept of green IT. Important approaches include not only reducing resource and energy consumption in hardware manufacturing, but also social and fair working conditions in production, manufacturing hardware that is as durable as possible, developing software that conserves resources, reducing energy consumption in the use of IT, recycling and energy-saving disposal, as well as avoiding unnecessary paper printouts and using IT to reduce emissions from other products (e.g., traffic, heating systems).

Also in the area of information and communitacion technology, sustainable concepts can be implemented.
Also in the area of information and communitacion technology, sustainable concepts can be implemented.

So if a company decides to integrate green IT concepts into its structures, there is often a lack of approaches to implementation. As a first step, it is advisable to analyze the company's software and hardware landscape and how it is used by employees. This transparency is important in order to be able to assess the status quo as well as desired changes and associated efforts. Starting points for integrating green IT do not have to be complicated, as the following examples show.

Use of cloud hosting: Outsourcing applications to certified data centers instead of storing all data in-house is much more resource-efficient. It is not uncommon for in-house infrastructures to run empty over 80 percent of the time.

Creating a modern IT infrastructure and data strategy: Using an external data center is not an option for every company and every division. Nevertheless, resources can be saved by simplifying the IT infrastructure, for example by virtualizing and centralizing IT services. The storage and warehousing of all data generated within the company requires large amounts of energy-intensive storage space. A more sustainable alternative is to store only the data that is really needed. Backups require just as much energy in the case of nested storage and folder structures.

Use of open source: Open interfaces allow open source software to be used flexibly in different server systems and databases, which ultimately reduces the load on systems. Likewise, open source software requires less computing power because it is written in a less complex way, which results in savings in time, electricity and emissions.

Procurement of environmentally friendly hardware: Environmentally friendly labels and the longevity of the hardware should be taken into account when making procurement decisions. Lavishly equipped terminals are not always necessary; mini PCs or thin clients, for example, are often sufficient. Using an inkjet printer instead of a laser printer is also more environmentally friendly. Another option is to buy equipment that has been refurbished for professional use (refurbished hardware) instead of new. This extends the life of equipment and helps reduce electronic waste.

Use mobile work processes: Some on-site appointments can be replaced by video conferencing - this does not make the technology itself more sustainable, but thus it is relatively easy (if only by eliminating travel) to contribute to an improved environmental balance of the company. The same applies to the integration of the remote office concept.

Paperless office concept: By saving on paper printouts, not only can costs for paper and toner be saved, but digital technology can also be used in a more environmentally friendly way. Simply reconsider which documents really need to be printed.

Standby mode: Using the pre-integrated standby mode is an uncomplicated way to save energy in everyday life. Shutting down devices at the end of the day also leads to savings and should be implemented consistently.

Disposing of hardware: It is just as easy to facilitate recycling and contribute to reuse by properly disposing of computers, printers and toners, for example.

Increasing networking and digitalization make information and communication technology and its possibilities a relevant factor for most companies. Whether computers, servers or entire data centers, there is no getting around the acquisition, management and maintenance of these.

At the same time, Green IT approaches do not stand in the way of corporate interests: savings in resources in the IT sector are not only good for the environment, but also good for profitability at the same time. Sustainability is therefore interesting for all companies, whereby it is true that with a higher IT share of a company, the application of Green IT also becomes more interesting and profitable. The use of green IT can be an important competitive factor, and it is not only a matter of optimizing the cost structure, but also of improving the company's image. A study by Deloitte found that among Generation Y, as many as four out of ten consumers pay attention to sustainable business practices on the part of manufacturers - and the trend is rising.

As shown in the examples just mentioned, the integration of green IT can be less complicated than it first appears. Modern and efficient developments and solutions in IT also contribute to its realization. Even small changes can contribute to sustainability in the IT industry, which in turn ultimately has an impact on society's overall sustainability efforts.


Sources: www.zukunftsinstitut.de, www.dgq.de, www.computerworld.ch, www.bmuv.de, www.ionos.de, www.gulp.de, www.wikipedia.org

 
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