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Debate over green role of IT

Businesses have different ideas about what technology can do for sustainability

Technology key to green issues, say IT executives

The green implications of technology are viewed differently between both individual businesses and entire sectors, according to research.

Some 90 percent of the 350-strong survey's respondents said IT is part of the solution to reducing environmental impact. But one in five admit that they are not using technology to improve sustainability, says the survey from BT and Datamonitor.

Firms could be wasting financial benefits, said BT Global Services UK chief executive Tim Smart.

"Operating sustainably is important – and technology has a role to play in making it happen," said Smart.

"But lack of forethought means companies may fail to see real benefit from the efforts they are making and critically a return on their investments."

Utilities groups are most likely to have a plan for maximising sustainability through technology: 66 percent already have a strategy in place, compared with only 44 percent of the construction sector.

Just over half (51 percent) of finance and public sector companies have a similar plan.

A third of UK organisations think the need to improve sustainability will be the main motivation behind IT investment in the next five years. A further 25 percent said the implementation of new technologies was most important, compared with the 11 percent who cited security improvements.

Debate over green role of IT

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