"We need to start an IT tradition to use less power," says Stefan Jacobs, SEE systems practice solutions architect for Sun Microsystems, referring to the ever-increasing amounts of carbon dioxide being pumped into the air every day.
Speaking at the ITWeb Virtualisation of the Enterprise conference in Midrand this week, Jacobs explained to delegates that IT companies and suppliers need to come up with ways to deal with this issue.
"We need to increase utilisation, improve space efficiency, and greatly reduce power consumption," he said.
Sun Microsystems, says Jacobs, has already begun minimising its carbon footprint.
"By offering an 'open work' environment and giving workers the option of working from home, we are reducing the economic and ecological costs of commuting. Sun has already lowered CO2 emissions by an estimated 30 000 tons."
Furthermore, he says, desktops run on a shared server resulting in carbon savings and lower maintenance costs."
One other solution is server consolidation through virtualisation, he said. "Virtualisation increases utilisation, and reduces the number of servers that need to run."
Sun has recently launched an eco-programme in SA which is endorsed by the Central Energy Fund. "They have recognised the fact that IT needs to be more green," he said.
Peter Armstrong, corporate strategist at BMC Software, said green IT should be pitched to the business as a benefit, but consolidation should remain the main driver. "Everyone is nodding about green IT, but not doing much about it."
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