SELL SELL SELL

Released 03/10/2008

Survey reveals green IT challenges for UK plc

The majority of IT managers are feeling pressure to reduce their carbon footprints, according to a survey commissioned by Zycko, the value-added distributor of best-in-class convergent IT solutions. Sixty-one per cent feel pressure to cut down on their energy usage and 60% plan to reduce their carbon footprint within the next 18 months. Encouragingly, most (70%) already have some green measures in place such as remote working and video conferencing facilities to reduce the need for employees to travel.

The independent OmniBoss research, conducted by Vanson Bourne, provides a detailed overview of the green IT issues currently faced by medium to large UK businesses.

David Galton-Fenzi, Zycko's Group Sales Director, comments: "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."

The research also identified major hurdles on the way to reducing carbon emissions. Almost two thirds (67%) of IT managers are unaware of how much power their data centre draws and less than half (45%) currently enforce shutting down of computers at night and on weekends. Six per cent have no policies in place at all.

Lack of IT resources and cost were cited as the biggest barriers to becoming green (52%), with 23% claiming they simply do not know what their options are. When asked where they get their information on environmental issues, 39% claimed they rely on their suppliers.

Galton-Fenzi continued: "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."

There are a number of available solutions that suppliers can offer to clients on tight budgets and often these lie not in building more data centres, or even in expanding current sites, but rather in utilising existing storage space more efficiently. These enable servers to be powered on and off, heat and cooling to be monitored, and power delivery to be examined and adjusted.

David Galton-Fenzi concludes: "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."

Return to news

Discuss In Our Forum