MPs urge more action on green IT
No plans to utilise hot air yet, though
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The House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee has said the government should be more ambitious in its strategy for greening the use of information technology.
Part of its Greening Government report (pdf) highlights the Greening Government ICT Strategy, launched in July 2009, with a claim that it is time to raise the ambition level around the agenda.
"The chief information officers and chief technology officers have responded well to the first set of targets but they must now be increased," the reports says. "The strategy itself acknowledges there is a need to work with departments and industry to explore and invest in radical green ICT solutions for the ICT problem, but also consider issues relating to the life cycle impact and disposal of old IT hardware."
It points to a number of areas in which further action could be taken, including: - extending procurement cycles to a mandatory minimum of four years - reducing the duplication of equipment per person - ensuring that data centres meet the European Data Centre code of Conduct for server optimisation - reducing unnecessary packaging of equipment - developing a pan-government strategy on video conferencing - increasing the amount of renewable energy sourced for electricity.
The report says the government is developing a Green ICT Scorecard to help organisations deal with environmental responsibilities, and a roadmap for chief information officers to support their efforts in the field.
It also highlights the potential of IT to reduce the need for travel, and to ensure that people make the most efficient travel choices through providing them with the relevant information. ®
This article was originally published at Kable.
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COMMENTS
@Steve Evans
I call BS on your post. When was the last time a top 10 hit actually had funky beats?
Telecommuting...?
And they talk about telecommuting where...? <watches tumbleweed roll by>
The thing that could make the biggest difference of course gets nary a mention, because not only might it work, it might actually improve people's quality of life at the same time, and the doomsters can't have that. Besides, the gov't are too spineless to stand up to the likes of the CBI who want to be able to look over their "untrustworthy" staff's collective shoulders all day to make sure they're continuing the illusion of work.
Sigh. In the 15 years since I (very successfully) took part in a home/mobile working programme, it seems we've actually regressed.
And so it'll continue: people remain obliged to do a drive they dislike at a time they hate into an office they don't want to be in and that saps morale and hurts productivity while sanctimonious greenies talk about beating them with a big stick for driving their cars to do the jobs that provide the taxes that subsidise their ludicrously expensive, inefficient and unsustainable sustainable energy.
@ Steve Evans
I concur: I bought a Revo (the £160 quid OS-Free version) and have it stuck to the back of my telly. It's more than enough computer for casual use (like what MP's would use it for) and it is incredibly energy efficient.
I've got Win7 on it, and it seems to do most things alright: plus spotify has just made my 20 years of record collecting irrelevant.
They keyboard and mouse are a load of bing, though, and have been replaced by a wireless set.
I'm currently contemplating changing the work PC buying policy and insisting on Revo's there, as much of our apps are delivered via a browser or citrix. Roll on huge IT savings.
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