By Nick Heath
Friday, January 18 2008 12:32 PM
URL: http://www.zdnetasia.com/news/business/0,39044229,62036753,00.htm

Sustainability should be a key consideration when building IT infrastructure, according to a report by analyst firm Butler Group.

Mark Blowers, senior research analyst at Butler Group, pointed to significant cost savings of 10 to 20 percent that can be achieved by going green and IT's key role in meeting a company's sustainability objectives.

Radical solutions such as designing software to consume less processor cycles and using hardware that does not require a power-hungry AC-DC conversion should be standard practice, the report says.

In addition it encourages companies to drive down the wastage of paper and ink when printing, increase recycling rates and use more recyclable equipment. It also recommends companies reduce reliance on products manufactured using toxic chemicals, switch off unused equipment, reduce underused servers and increase the use of fresh-air cooling.

The report Sustainable IT Provision--Meeting the Challenge of Corporate, Social and Environmental Responsibility says companies need to move beyond thinking they are doing enough by buying into the green claims of many vendors.

Blowers told silicon.com sustainable practice goes hand-in-hand with good asset management.

He said: "Sustainability should be built in as a consideration when setting up IT systems in the same way that something such as cost is.

"There are significant savings to be made, even through simple things such as switching PCs off, companies can achieve something like 10 to 20 percent savings and it will go a long way toward meeting the entire company's sustainability objective."

Nick Heath of Silicon.com reported from London.