Green IT

The emissions from the energy consumption of information and communications technologies and the emissions from their manufacture, transport, and disposal now account for 0.86 metric gigatons of emissions a year, or about 2 percent of the emissions added to the atmosphere globally. The world’s increasing need for computation, data storage, and communications is driving rapid growth in the emissions associated with such technologies. By 2020, they will account for about 3 percent of all emissions: 1.54 metric gigatons, or twice what the United Kingdom produces today¹ .

On the flipside information and communications technologies can help abate far more emissions in the general economy than their own production and use generates.  ICT could deliver a 15% reduction in global CO₂ by 2020, delivering a cost saving in fuel, energy and the cost of carbon of over a trillion dollars².

To assist companies to manage their IT emissions, Greenstone has launched Green IT, an addition to the existing Acco₂unt suite of carbon accounting tools.  Green IT allows large organisations to accurately audit and rationalise their IT estate – such as desktop computers, servers, peripherals, phones and data centre appliances - for energy efficiency and carbon emissions. It offers a detailed view of the energy consumption of complex IT infrastructures and allows organisations to accurately report their carbon emissions for mandatory emissions trading schemes such as the Carbon Reduction Commitment³.

To learn more about Green IT click here

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¹ The McKinsley Quarter,– How IT can cut carbon emissions October 2008
² The Climate Group – Smart 2020 Report, June 2008
³ The Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) is a mandatory emissions trading scheme covering large businesses and public sector organisations.  Inclusion will be a legal requirement for organisations whose half-hourly metered electricity use in the UK is above 6,000 mega watts per year.  The scheme will commence in April 2010 and participating organisations will be required to calculate their energy use, buy an emissions allowance for each tonne of C0₂ emitted and surrender these allowances to government.