Dear {tag_recipientemail},
Welcome to The Green IT Monitor – the publication that monitors Green IT issues. Connection Research defines Green IT widely, to include the use of IT to help the organisation reduce its total carbon footprint (see below).
The Green IT Monitor will address Green IT issues, both Australian and international. We welcome Pete Foster, founder of UK newsletter The Green IT Review, as our International Editor.
This newsletter is free. Please forward it any of your colleagues you think might be interested.
This months topics:
The recent announcement by the Australian Government that it will delay the introduction of its Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS) by 12 months has led some people to believe that the mandatory reporting of carbon emissions has also been delayed.
Not so. There is no change to the National Greenhouse Emissions Reporting System (NGERS), which became law under the Howard Government in 2007. But this has not been widely reported, and many people mistakenly believe they have a holiday from the Act’s reporting requirements. They are sadly mistaken.
Under NGERS, large polluters (companies with more than 125 kilotonnes of carbon emissions p.a., or facilities w more than 25 kt p.a.) must start reporting for the 2008-2009 FY – i.e. their reporting period started in July last year. To quote directly from the Govt’s website: “corporations have until 31 August 2009 to apply to register and until 31 October 2009 to submit their reports under the Act.” In other words, they have to register in the next three months and report within five months.
This first group will cover approximately the top 500-1000 organisations in Australia – the big end of town. In 2009-10 those emitting at least 87.5 kt will have to report, and in 2010-11 those emitting at least 50 kt will have to report. This will bring the total to about 3000 organisations, which gets down into SME territory.
All of these organisations will have to employ or designate a GEDO (greenhouse emissions data officer), who will be responsible for compliance. Fines of “up to” $200,000 are legislated for non-compliance (but expect great leniency in early years).
That reporting requirement is driving the massive growth in the use of CEMMS (carbon emissions measurement and management software). There are at least 50 suppliers of CEMMS products, many – such as Carbon Systems and CarbonView – in Australia. See a news piece on the subject at
Green IT is not directly related to these matters. IT is responsible for 2-5% of most company’s carbon emissions. But IT is the organisation’s measurement tool, and its information repository. It will be virtually impossible to satisfy NGERS reporting requirements without IT. That is why CEMMS is a hot topic – and why Connection Reswearch is writing a report on the subject.
- Graeme Philipson
Green IT is a much-discussed topic in the IT industry. To most people, the subject is reasonably easy to define, with a simple elevator pitch: “Green IT is about reducing the energy consumption and carbon footprint of the IT function within the organisation.”
This is true, as far as it goes. IT is a significant consumer of electricity worldwide, on a par with the airline industry. Therefore it makes sense, as emission reduction becomes desirable and even mandatory, that IT users should look at ways of reducing the energy consumption of their systems.
Data centre power bills are soaring as electricity prices go up and new server technologies pack more and more processors, which consume more and more power, into less and less space. Water cooling is making a comeback to handle the heat dissipation issues. At the same time tough economic circumstances are putting increased focus on running costs, and power consumption as a component of those costs is becoming more visible. Reporting requirements are becoming more stringent and there is an increased awareness across business and society of the unsustainability of many current consumption patterns.
There are many well-documented ways of reducing IT’s power consumption. Virtualisation, server consolidation, “Green PCs”, thin clients, etc. The disciplines, technologies and methodologies are reasonably well known, and many analyst and consulting groups are writing reports and offering services that advise on and facilitate the process.
Not so widely discussed is IT’s enabling effect – its ability to reduce an organisation’s carbon footprint by facilitating more efficient and less carbon-intensive work practices – teleconferencing instead of flying or commuting, improved supply chain management, IT-enabled energy reduction systems, smart metering, etc.
Also not widely discussed is IT’s role in measuring and monitoring the carbon footprint of the entire organisation – a process that will become mandatory for most large enterprises in Australian with the planned introduction of the Australian government’s NGERS (National Greenhouse Emissions Reduction Scheme).
There are various estimates of the proportion of the world’s carbon footprint caused by IT, ranging between 1.5% and 5%. A figure of 2% is often used, and some people talk of “the other 98%” – i.e. the large majority of the world’s carbon emissions NOT caused by IT.
It is addressing this area where IT has the greatest potential for benefit. While ever Green IT focuses solely on reducing the energy consumption of the IT function, it will be a marginal activity.
- Graeme Philipson
Tandberg, which calls itself “the leading global provider of telepresence video conferencing and mobile video solutions” has published a list of ten ways in which video conferencing can reduce a company's carbon footprint.
Tandberg says that its 1400 employees conduct more than 75,000 video conferencing and telepresence calls monthly (which works out at an average of more than two each per working day, which is surprising). The company also maintains that its customers find they can reduce the need to travel by up to 30%. It cites delivery company TNT which implemented video conferencing estimated to cut travel by 20%, saving over $20m over four years and significantly reducing carbon emissions.
Tandberg’s ten Green IT tips are:
- Telecommuting – Enable people to work from home. Save on real estate and operational costs, while increasing productivity and morale of employees (no traffic).
Clearly Tandberg had to stretch a point to make it up to ten tips, but they do demonstrate a variety of ways that videoconferencing can have a positive impact on an organisation, as well as saving travel costs and carbon emissions. It will certainly become ubiquitous in the future and an increasing important aspect of corporate ICT.
- Pete Foster
Australia
Are computer games really climate killers?
http://www.news.com.au/technology/story/0,,23336074-5014108,00.html
Laptop goes green
http://www.watoday.com.au/executive-style/gadgets/laptop-goes-green-20090518-b93d.html
CIOs urged to remain focused on innovation
http://www.itnews.com.au/News/102809,cios-urged-to-remain-focused-on-innovation.aspx
Oracle continues spending spree with Virtual Iron buy
http://www.itnews.com.au/News/103156,oracle-continues-spending-spree-with-virtual-iron-buy.aspx
Netbooks, cloud to be winners this year: IDC
http://www.itnews.com.au/News/102484,netbooks-cloud-to-be-winners-this-year-idc.aspx
Green tech firms ponder carbon emissions delay
http://www.itnews.com.au/News/102670,green-tech-firms-ponder-carbon-emissions-delay.aspx
Computers Off Australia gives CeBIT the Green Tick
http://www.crn.com.au/News/102746,computers-off-australia-gives-cebit-the-green-tick.aspx
Green specialist searches for like-minded resellers
http://www.arnnet.com.au/article/302195/green_specialist_searches_like-minded_resellers
International
California launches green IT effort with smart IT
http://www.infoworld.com/d/green-it/california-launches-green-it-effort-smart-it-609
Siemens Offers Whole-Company Green IT Consultancy
http://www.eweekeurope.co.uk/news/siemens-offers-whole-company-green-it-consultancy-836
Too Much Vendor “Bollocks” In Green IT
http://www.eweekeurope.co.uk/news/ba--too-much-vendor--bollocks--in-green-it-833
BCS pushes for green IT certifications
http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2241798/bcs-pushes-green-certifications
How To Jump into Green IT 2.0
http://www.reuters.com/article/gwmTechnology/idUS19508703620090504
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Connection Research offers a range of services and products in the Green IT space:
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Green IT Report: The state of play in Australia, based on a survey of over 250 IT managers and CIOs
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Green IT White Paper: A free summary of the Green IT Report
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Green IT Report Card: A quick benchmark of your Green IT against your peers.
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Green IT Readiness Index: A thorough audit of your Green IT practices and opportunities.
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Carbon Emissions Measurement and Management Software: An overview of the market and the drivers, and a comprehensive guide to CEMMS products (in production).
For more information, contact Connection Research
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