Green IT - Getting up to Speed

By Pat Tiernan, Executive Director
Climate Savers Computing Initiative

For those of us in the green IT space, it’s important to sometimes stop and remember that not everyone lives and breathes energy-efficiency the way we do, and that for some organizations, “going green” can seem a daunting task. So I was encouraged to see a report last week co-authored by Forrester analyst and Climate Savers Computing friend Doug Washburn: “The Value Of A Green IT Maturity Assessment,” which provides a step-by-step guide for those organizations looking to get up to speed with green IT.

Here’s a brief introduction:

“CIOs recognize the importance of environmental considerations in planning IT operations, but they are often unsure about how to put that recognition into action. With sustainability rising on the corporate agenda, and the cost, risk, and revenue benefits of green IT becoming more visible than ever, now is the time for CIOs to create and execute on a coherent, comprehensive green IT initiative. The crucial first step is assessment — understanding the state of green IT policies and practices within your organization.“

We couldn’t have said it better ourselves. As GreenerComputing points out, the Forrester report also lists five results a CIO can get from a maturity assessment:

• Find low-hanging fruit.


• Judge what’s possible.


• Prioritize the next round of activities.


• Communicate the IT organizational progress, or lack thereof.


• Build the business case for longer-term initiatives.

Bottom line: A green IT maturity test can provide the initial map you need on the road to higher energy efficiencies, reduced costs and waste and more sustainable computing. Do you know where your organization stands?