How IT directors cut carbon. More help needed from the UK Government

Latest estimates calculate that energy consumption globally from IT accounts for 2% to 4% and in the UK between 10% and 12%. IT definitely has a role to play if the UK Government has any chance of hitting its ambitious climate change goals. CIO’s must work to reduce the environmental impact of computing right through the business from back office data centers to the corporate desktop. Carbon audits, reconfiguring data-centers, deploying equipment with power consumption sensors, upgrading power supplies all help but only scratch the surface of what needs to be done however. Long term goals around server/infrastructure virtualization, data-center outsourcing, thin-client computing, tough supplier benchmarking and even building incentive schemes that reward IT for low energy consumption should appear on the CIO agenda. The UK government has a role to play however and perhaps follow the  US (yes, the US) where state tax incentives for example, encourage the procurement of energy efficient hardware.