Being an eco-conscious business is no longer just something that’s the right thing to do – it makes financial sense. Environmental policy and energy efficiency are priorities of the Obama administration, so businesses that don’t take voluntary steps to reduce their carbon footprints may face regulations later on. What’s more, consumers are demanding more sustainable practices from the companies they patronize. Technology is one place that businesses can focus with a clear economic return.
The Green Plan:
1. Write a sustainability plan for your technology systems. Put your environmental goals in writing, so you have a roadmap to follow throughout the year. Any plan should include a mission statement describing what you’re trying to achieve and set some attainable goals for the year ahead – along with descriptions of how you’ll achieve those goals. Sign up for a Launch Pad Green IT Audit.
2. Focus on low- and no-cost first. Look for easy, affordable ways to cut waste. Simple steps, such as setting energy-saving modes on office computers, installing double-sided printer and writing an office recycling policy can generate big effects and savings at little cost.
3. Set the “sleep” (power management) settings on your computer to automatically turn your monitor, hard drive or entire system off after specific periods of inactivity, and ask your organization to implement a policy on it. Save money and electricity!
4. Find financial incentives for Green Technology. States and cities are suppose to use some of their federal stimulus dollars toward energy-conservation projects and many are rolling out grants and other financial incentives for businesses making energy-efficiency improvements.
5. Use more mobile devices, netbooks and thin clients, all of which reduce power consumption and ultimately your businesses carbon footprint.
6. Recycle your old electronics (anything with a plug), batteries, CFLs and ink cartridges. Reduce toxics in landfills! You can learn how to recycle electronics and find recycling centers here.
7. Focus on virtualization could include storage and client devices, in addition to servers, in the near future. According to Gartner, installation of hosted virtual desktops will be carried out by not more than 40 percent of users by 2010.
Want to learn more about Green IT for your business? Sign up for our Free RevITup™ Easy-to-GreenIT™ Technology Audit or contact Megan Meisner at mmeisner@launchpadonline.com or (813) 920-0788 x210.
