Green IT: Why the IT industry has the biggest potential for sustainability

Sustainability and digitalisation: two words that everyone is talking about these days. But how do these two topics interact and influence each other? Digitalisation promotes a sustainable environment, but it also entails risks in terms of environmental protection. On the one hand, the IT industry is one of the reasons for our unecological actions, but on the other hand, it also offers the greatest potential for a sustainable society. The following text looks at these challenges and opportunities of the two megatrends of digitalisation and sustainability with a specific focus on the IT industry. I will also give you tips on bringing your company to the top level in terms of sustainability thanks to “Green IT”.

Sustainability as a cornerstone for digitalisation

In the meantime, it has become clear to everyone that sustainable thinking is indispensable. Not only in the private sector, but also in business. Sustainability strengthens a positive image, reduces costs thanks to lower resource consumption and is considered as a quality indicator. 

Environmental awareness among the population has risen significantly in recent years. With fewer flights, fewer mass events and working at home, the last two pandemic years were promising for our environment. But despite this, global warming is accelerating. More and more climate-damaging greenhouse gases are measurable in the atmosphere.

Sustainability means long-term thinking, which includes conscious and responsible action. In this way, existing resources can be conserved.

Sustainability can be divided into three areas: Environmental, economic, and social sustainability. To act sustainably as a company, all three areas must be covered. However, the ecological area is the cornerstone for it. If we do not take care of the environment in the ecological sense, this has an impact on our economy and our social system. In reverse, an intact environment promotes a growing economic system and society. Sustainability is therefore also a cornerstone for digitalisation.

In the meantime, it has become clear to everyone that sustainable thinking is indispensable. Not only in the private sector, but also in business. Sustainability strengthens a positive image, reduces costs thanks to lower resource consumption and is considered as a quality indicator. 

Environmental awareness among the population has risen significantly in recent years. With fewer flights, fewer mass events and working at home, the last two pandemic years were promising for our environment. But despite this, global warming is accelerating. More and more climate-damaging greenhouse gases are measurable in the atmosphere.

Sustainability can be divided into three areas: Environmental, economic, and social sustainability. To act sustainably as a company, all three areas must be covered. However, the ecological area is the cornerstone for it. If we do not take care of the environment in the ecological sense, this has an impact on our economy and our social system. In reverse, an intact environment promotes a growing economic system and society. Sustainability is therefore also a cornerstone for digitalisation.

Sustainability means long-term thinking, which includes conscious and responsible action. In this way, existing resources can be conserved.

Digitalisation as a pacemaker of today's environment

Sustainability and digitalisation have one thing in common: both megatrends are advancing faster than we can adapt.

In terms of digitalisation, it is almost impossible for companies, even IT companies, to keep up. As soon as something new is developed, the technology changes again. Constant agility is required. The rapid development brings enormous opportunities, but also risks. To name just a few risks The possibilities of cybercrime are growing, and attackers are becoming more and more perfidious. According to the National Centre for Cyber Security, more than 10,000 cyber-attacks were recorded last year.

This rapid development of digitalisation leads to an increasingly fast-changing environment. It requires more data storage, faster internet, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to cope with the large amount of data. For this, we are dependent on an enormous amount of electricity. It also creates waste, as the newest devices always have to be bought and the development of the technologies is resource-intensive. Consequently, digitalisation has a significant impact on sustainability.

In terms of digitalisation, it is almost impossible for companies, even IT companies, to keep up. As soon as something new is developed, the technology changes again. Constant agility is required. The rapid development brings enormous opportunities, but also risks. To name just a few risks The possibilities of cybercrime are growing, and attackers are becoming more and more perfidious. According to the National Centre for Cyber Security, more than 10,000 cyber-attacks were recorded last year.

This rapid development of digitalisation leads to an increasingly fast-changing environment. It requires more data storage, faster internet, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to cope with the large amount of data. For this, we are dependent on an enormous amount of electricity. It also creates waste, as the newest devices always have to be bought and the development of the technologies is resource-intensive. Consequently, digitalisation has a significant impact on sustainability.

Sustainability and digitalisation have one thing in common: both megatrends are advancing faster than we can adapt.

Greatest potential for sustainability lies in the IT sector

Due to the rapidly advancing digitalisation, more and more IT services are needed. As a result, requirements such as security, efficiency, modernisation, big data management, etc., are increasing. But according to the SwissICT, there will be a shortage of around 120,000 IT specialists by 2028 to meet these requirements.  With this shortage of skilled workers, how will there be time to address the issue of sustainability?

Despite these challenges, there is enormous potential for sustainability in the IT sector. To act sustainably, companies mainly have to optimise their value chain. Optimising the IT infrastructure is a core element of this. Digital networking is central and therefore, IT is becoming increasingly important in sustainable enterprises.

But where specifically can digital tools be used to promote sustainability? One of the most considerable resources consumed by IT is energy. Our digital society has increased energy consumption enormously. The reasons for this are, as already described, data centres, internet requests, AI and data management.

Thanks to modern technologies, consumption can be reduced with comparably little effort and so-called Green IT can be introduced.

Top five tips to become a sustainable business

As an employee of an IT company, I have compiled my top five tips in the following section on how companies can use digital tools to increase their sustainability. 

1. Sustainability in data centres

Server rooms and data centres are one of the biggest consumers of electricity in companies. The locations must always be cooled down due to the heating of the equipment. According to EnergieSchweiz, the nationwide energy consumption of all data centres with at least eleven servers accounts for a total of three percent of Switzerland’s total electricity consumption.  Local server rooms are also not scalable. This means that during the day, the servers are completely utilised. After work, the capacity in most companies is only used to a minimal extent.

Companies should therefore introduce modern and more efficient data centres. This can be optimised with technologies such as free cooling, the right location for the server (for example in the basement, where the temperature is lower anyway). Energy-efficient devices and virtualisation with Windows Virtual Desktop, for example, can scale the server load and thus optimise it. 

2. Cloud as data storage

Cloud data centres are even more ecological than optimised server rooms. Our immense data collections make it more efficient for a company to store the data in a central cloud. The data storage can be scaled more efficiently and be better protected. One of the largest clouds is the Microsoft Cloud. Thanks to the locations in Nordic countries and the central data storage, these data centres can be cooled more efficiently. Microsoft has set itself the goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2030 and is doing everything it can to improve energy efficiency in data centres.

3. Less resource consumption thanks to digitalisation

Thanks to digital tools such as DocuSign, PDF Editor and cloud sharing, a company can become paperless. Contracts and important documents can be protected appropriately and stored thanks to a labelling system (e.g. Microsoft Sensitivity labels). Digital tools such as Confluence, Jira or Microsoft PowerBI also help to make processes more efficient and increase transparency. The office space is also a key element. If, for example, motion sensors are installed or the building is equipped with a low-energy heating system, resources can also be saved. With the reduction of resources, the company is lightened, and costs are reduced.

4. Data analysis to monitor energy consumption

Due to the large amount of data we have thanks to digital work, energy consumption can be constantly monitored. A good big data management analyses the data provided by electronic devices and therefore climate sinners can be identified more quickly and replaced if possible. The goal remains in sight and with helpful visualisations, the management always keeps track of the current status in terms of sustainability.

5. Ecological awareness in the company

The last tip does not have to do with a concrete tool, but it is a core element for an eco-friendly company. The importance of sustainability must be embedded in the culture of the company. Employees should always keep in mind why this issue is so important and what they can do about it. Flexible working, home office, recycling, and less waste; but also minor issues such as switching off the PC overnight, less paper consumption, etc. are then implemented automatically and resources are saved.

As we can see, the two topics of digitalisation and sustainability are closely related. Together they offer new opportunities, but also challenges. The protection of our environment is central and builds the future basis for the economy, society and therefore for digitalisation too. Thanks to digital tools, a large part can be contributed to sustainability so that the environment can be further protected. Only together can we protect our planet and offer future generations the future they deserve on earth. 

“Nature and all that it offers us is the foundation of the global economy, culture and all of humanity.”

Lucas Joppa, Chief Environmental Officer at Microsoft

Need help with the implementation of a sustainable IT infrastructure? The baseVISION Team is ready to help you. 

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