Green IT

Chances are, your company has at least attempted some sort of “green” or sustainability initiative over the past few years, either in an honest effort to make the world a better place or to save money. Unless they’re properly planned and implemented, these projects often falter, fizzling out before they can make any real impact. And they can end up costing you more money if

According to the 2012 Energy Efficiency IT Report, 54% of respondents said that they had or were developing “defined and enforced programs or strategies to manage power demand and/or consumption in their data center”. When asked about their biggest barrier to increasing energy efficiency, 56% of respondents reported that they didn’t have the budget for “new, more efficient systems”. Money is clearly a factor, but the study also shows us that perceived difficulty of updating equipment or software is also a significant concern. Since ease of implementation affects how much of whose time is spent on the project, time becomes the issue, since many IT departments are already trying to fit as much into their schedules as possible.

Despite the real and perceived difficulties of implementing a sustainable IT initiative, the costs of inefficiency and waste pile up. An interesting article published at ZDNet today highlights the green implications of software and website design, which can create major drains on an IT department’s resources. How much power a device or program requires to run is an important usability issue, and should be featured front and center in any green tech implementation plan. A commonly overlooked power-suck is the smartphone app, which can demand a lot from your phone’s resources.

What challenges has your company or IT department faced while working to make operations greener?