The majority of medium-to-large UK companies are considering the environmental implications of their operations and are implementing green IT policies, according to a survey released by OmniBoss.
The survey reveals 60% of UK businesses plan to reduce their carbon footprint in the next 18 months, 61% feel pressure to reduce carbon emissions and 70% have existing green measures in place in their offices.
Zycko group sales director, David Galton-Fenzi, says: “The fact that almost two thirds of businesses are committed to improving their green credentials shows how far we have come over the past few years, and demonstrates a real shift in attitudes towards climate change and the environment. This is a very positive sign."
While these figures are encouraging, the results of the survey pointed to some hurdles to the progress being made, says Vanson Bourne, researcher at OmniBoss. The survey revealed that 67% of IT managers are not aware of the power usage levels of their data centre, 45% enforce shutting down computers after hours and on weekends, and only 6% of managers have no existing policies in place.
The results of the survey also revealed that companies still lack knowledge and training on the implementation of greening policies. "It is clear from the research that most organisations have made the commitment to reduce their carbon emissions, but they need help implementing the required changes. This presents an opportunity for the channel, as it reveals a gap in the market for IT suppliers to add consultation on green issues to their service offering," comments Galton-Fenzi.
The survey indicated that 52% of companies felt a lack of IT resources and cost were the biggest barriers to becoming green, 23% of respondents claimed they are unaware of the options available to them, while 39% responded that they rely on their suppliers for environmental information.
Galton-Fenzi recommends that companies, along with their suppliers, should look at ensuring their existing storage space is used more efficiently, monitor office heating and cooling and examine power delivery.
"Over the past year we have seen energy prices skyrocket, resulting in power consumption becoming both an environmental and a capital issue. Any reduction in energy usage inevitably results in a cost saving for businesses. Suppliers can work with their clients to find solutions that address both cost and green issues simultaneously, delivering a real value-add," he says.
Share