Posts Tagged ‘governmment’
The Australian government has released a review of the government’s use of information and communication technology (ICT), which includes recommendations for sustainability.
As we’ve discussed before, having a green PC strategy is a key part of being sustainable. One submission to the review also focused on PCs. The submission drew the review’s attention to EPEAT, a registry set up by the US government to track the environmental performance standards of PCs, monitors, and laptops.
A report by the US Environmental Protection Agency suggested the following benefits, over four years, from the US government purchasing EPEAT registered computers:
- save US$71.4 million in energy costs
- reduce energy use by 824 gigawatt hours
- reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 64,700 CO2e
The Australian government review made only very high-level recommendations in relation to sustainability. So while it was refreshing to see sustainability recognised as an important topic, it clearly wasn’t the top priority for the review.
The principal sustainability recommendation was that a whole-of-government ICT sustainability plan be developed. While there is an element of Yes Minister to commissioning a review that recommends the development of a plan, this is actually a good recommendation. According to the review the plan should:
- identify which of the available standards (for example, EPEAT) should be adopted as mandatory for relevant ICT acquisitions
- include a whole-of-government ICT energy target, with agencies to report their progress towards the target
- take into account potential implications of a carbon pollution reduction scheme.
Australian businesses, and particularly large businesses, should be developing a similar plan for ICT sustainability. We think there are three good reasons to focus on ICT.
Firstly the cost savings and environmental benefits can be significant, as the US government report mentioned above demonstrates. In fact, in many cases, implementing a sustainability plan for ICT can be cost-positive because of the energy efficiency opportunities.
Secondly, starting with ICT can provide a good learning opportunity, which can prepare your organisation to tackle potentially more significant core-operational areas of your business: the same processes, tools and general approach will apply.
Lastly, ICT can drive benefits in other sustainability areas and can be a key enabler of your overall sustainability programme. It’s very important to think beyond just reducing the environmental impacts of ICT (which is perhaps all this review is doing).
For example, we’ve previously discussed travel as another great first area to focus on. Video conferencing systems can reduce the need for business travel and the right ICT systems can also enable staff to work productively from home, reducing commuting and office-space requirements.
ICT systems can also provide the tools to baseline; capture and track data; and report progress against your overall sustainability goals. Similarly it can provide tools to engage your employees and other stakeholders in your sustainability initiatives. Imagine, for example, a simple and interactive dashboard on your corporate Intranet that allows your employees to compare the performance of different business areas and submit ideas for reducing emissions and energy use.
Please contact us if you’d like help putting in place a sustainable ICT strategy for your business.
