Dozens of firms have signed up to our Green Computing Charter, unveiled two weeks ago as the core of a campaign to improve IT users’ environmental policies.

Following the launch of our Green Computing campaign, we received an overwhelming response from IT managers wanting to follow the seven-point charter intended to introduce green best practice while cutting costs and improving efficiency.

Financial services firms HSBC and Standard Life are two of the latest organisations to sign up to the charter. HSBC has a group-wide strategy across 76 countries and a dedicated group environmental adviser, Francis Sullivan.

Sullivan says the firm has adopted an integrated approach. ‘If I have one message for other companies it is teaming up IT, the buildings department and purchasing,’ he said.

HSBC’s Matthew O’Neill says reviewing the way technology is used can have a dramatic impact. ‘There are simple things we can do by using what we already have in a smarter way – this isn’t something you need to make a business case to the board for, and it will pay for itself,’ he said.

Standard Life’s Bill O’Day says raising awareness of environmental impact makes business sense and generates energy savings.

The firm is to update data centre equipment. ‘When we procure kit we look to buy the most efficient from a power consumption perspective,’ said O’Day. ‘There is no significant extra cost; it’s about changing management practices.’

To sign up, email: greencomputing@computing.co.uk

Full details of Green Computing can be found at www.computing.co.uk/greencomputing