Cost-cutting takes precedence over environmental concerns

Datacentre consolidation cuts costs and can lower carbon footprint

Reducing IT costs is more important to companies than environmental policies, but many of the green IT initiatives they take save money at the same time, according to a recent survey.

“While cost savings proved to be the biggest driver of decisions made about environmentally responsible IT, the survey proved that companies are still concerned
with green initiatives and are continuing on the track to sustaining and improving their environmentally friendly policies,” said the report from hosting services provider Rackspace.

The company surveyed its customers worldwide and found they were evenly split in terms of those who said the recession had not stopped their environmental efforts and the other half, who said they had suspended some or all of their environmental programmes until they see signs of recovery.

Recycling is the green initiative which the majority (71 per cent) cite as their primary focus. But more effective measures to lower carbon footprint which also save money are gaining in popularity too, for example: datacentre consolidation (31 per cent); and transport initiatives, such as car pools and business travel restrictions (29 per cent).

Cloud computing, touted by its champions as a greener way to organise IT, has yet to convince Rackspace’s customers. Only 21 per cent said it was a greener alternative to conventional computing.