With the passage of the CHIPS and Science Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act in 2022, green computing has become one of the more pressing topics for companies. Why? Because we only get one planet, and the way businesses choose to operate plays a significant role in how we preserve it for the future.
By exploring innovative solutions and practical tips, organizations can implement eco-friendly technology initiatives that minimize environmental impact while maximizing technological benefits regardless of industry, size, or scope.
As a provider of eco-friendly technology solutions, let’s explore how implementing strategies for sustainable technology management can support your businesses’ sustainability objectives.
What is Green Computing?
Green computing, sometimes called “sustainable IT,” refers to practices aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and the carbon footprints of individuals or businesses.
In today’s modern business climate, green computing is a vital consideration. Achieving “net zero” (or reducing greenhouse gas emissions to as close to zero as possible) has become a priority for most organizations. Green computing is ideal for enterprise firms as part of an organization’s overall environmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategy.
While the main objective of green IT practices is reducing energy consumption, businesses can find that green computing may also increase their bottom line.
Strategies for Green Computing
Many businesses idealistically understand the importance of sustainability but struggle to put it into practice. Eco-friendly computing relies on the following strategies for successful implementation.
1. Energy Efficiency
Organizations can tap into power management features on devices and virtualization technology to optimize and reduce energy usage.
Put it into practice: use energy-efficient hardware (i.e., low-power processors, servers, and peripherals) and use tech features to turn off computers and servers automatically when they’re not in use.
2. Data Center Efficiency
For businesses that utilize on-prem data servers, to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions, organizations can design and operate data centers focusing on energy efficiency.
Put it into practice: Hot aisle/cold aisle containment, efficient cooling systems, and server consolidation can significantly reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions.
3. Renewable Energy
Investing in renewable energy sources and purchasing renewable energy credits (RECs) from utilities is not only a way to reduce the carbon footprint of data centers and computing facilities, but it is also a proven way of the future.
Put it into practice: Tap into renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and hydroelectric power.
4. Lifecycle Management
Minimizing environmental impact means adopting lifecycle management practices that reduce electronic waste and extend the lifespan of your equipment.
Put it into practice: Perform regular maintenance, upgrades, and hardware refurbishment on equipment to prolong its usefulness, and practice proper disposal and recycling for end-of-life equipment.
5. Cloud Computing
Remove the need for on-premise infrastructure by using cloud computing services.
Put it into practice: Select a cloud provider that operates an efficient data center with options for scalability and flexibility.
6. Virtualization
Virtualization improves resource usage, reduces the number of physical services and devices, and enables greater consolidation of workloads onto fewer physical machines, resulting in energy savings and reduced hardware costs.
Put it into practice: Implement virtualization for servers, desktops, and storage.
7. Remote Work and Telecommuting
An easy way to lower carbon emissions associated with transportation and office energy consumption is to allow employees to work remotely.
Put it into practice: Encourage remote work, telecommuting, remote collaboration tools, and virtual meetings.
8. Green Procurement
Prioritize purchasing energy-efficient and environmentally friendly computing equipment that meets stringent environmental and energy efficiency standards.
Put it into practice: Look for products certified by programs such as Energy Star, EPEAT, or TCO Certified.
9. Optimized Software Development
Develop and optimize software applications with energy efficiency in mind to reduce energy consumption and improve the performance of computing systems.
Put it into practice: Use efficient coding practices like minimizing resource usage and optimizing algorithms.
10. Education and Awareness
Raise employees’ awareness about the environmental impact of computing activities and encourage sustainable practices.
Put it into practice: Turn off devices when not in use, print less, recycle electronic waste, and offer training programs and awareness campaigns to help foster a culture of sustainability.
Benefits of Implementing Green Technology Solutions
Beyond the stats and strategies, why implement green solutions? These are the top five advantages of embracing green computing practices in your organization:
- Lower Energy Costs: Every business is incentivized to lower costs. Reducing electricity usage with energy-efficient devices or alternative energy sources can lower overall energy costs for businesses when adopted on a large scale.
- Strengthen Your Brand: Consumers have many choices in today’s marketplace. Establishing yourself as a brand with tangible sustainability practices is a key market differentiator. Eco-conscious customers are more likely to purchase from brands that prioritize eco-friendly practices, such as ESG-backed products and services.
- Competitive Advantage: Pursuing sustainability goals can lead to more profitability and interest from potential investors. Studies support that ESG is a top priority for CEOs and CIOs. In fact, 74% of CEOs agree that increasing ESG efforts will attract more investors.
- Inspire Innovation: Green computing practices can drive sustainable innovation. New products, services, processes, and methods can become both sustainable and profitable.
- Attract and Retain Talent: One in three Gen Z individuals turned down a job because a company lacked ESG commitments that were in line with their personal values on sustainability. Employees in today’s job marketplace are demanding organizations with a proactive approach to sustainability management.
Go Green: The Importance of Green Computing for Your Business
Green computing requires a cultural shift to become a part of a company’s business practices. We know that prospective employees and customers alike care about the stance a business takes regarding sustainability and green computing. People want to invest time and money in companies that prioritize their impact on the environment throughout the product life cycle and consistently across provided services.
How is your business going “green?” With SymQuest, now is the time to transition to greener technology solutions. With an emphasis on supporting companies in expertly balancing profits with sustainability, our team can help your business establish effective strategies for sustainable technology management. Get in touch with our team to schedule a free consultation today.
