Industry must clean up its act

The IT industry contributes two per cent of damaging carbon emissions

Technology accounts for two per cent of all carbon emissions, putting the industry on a par with the aviation sector, says analyst Gartner.

But experts say IT also has more potential for speedy improvement than industries such as transport and manufacturing.

The two per cent figure includes both computer usage and the energy used to design, manufacture and distribute products.

Gartner researcher Simon Mingay says that the figure is a conservative estimate.

‘We included an approximation of the energy used in IT production, but we underestimated quite a lot so the actual number is probably higher,’ said Mingay.

‘The good news is that it is an area with huge potential for improvement,’ he added.

The fast pace of IT change means greener features, such as power management, can be quickly incorporated into products. And simple best practice, such as turning off monitors at night, has an immediate impact.

Many issues need tackling to cut carbon emissions, but IT is a good place to start, says MP Michael Jack, chairman of the House of Commons Environment Committee.

‘The speed of technological developments means issues around the waste of electrical power can be removed from IT without the angst currently typifying efforts to remove emissions from aviation,’ Jack told Computing.

Business has a further role to play in putting pressure on technology suppliers.

Most large firms have green policies, but IT vendors need to do more, says David Roberts, chief executive of user group The Corporate IT Forum.

‘There are some quick wins that would immediately allow users to reduce carbon emissions – provided suppliers do not stand in the way,’ he said.

Roberts says some vendors are taking advantage of technology that can do three times the work by charging three times the licence costs. ‘That is bad for users, bad for innovation and bad for the environment,’ he said.

There is a danger the world’s insatiable appetite for technology will counteract progress, says Friends of the Earth climate change campaigner Martin Williams.

‘If a PC becomes twice as efficient, but there are four times as many of them, then we have not got anywhere,’ he said.