The premise of
Occam's razoris that, "All things being
equal, the simplest explanation is usually the correct
one."
This theory has been used by theologians, philosophers and
scientists for some 700 years, and businesses can make use of this
idea in addressing their organisation's impact on the
environment.
As an immediate step, firms should review their
IT infrastructure. In many organisations, legacy systems are
adding to rising energy and maintenance costs.
Fortunately, the accelerated pace of global innovation is
leading to products that are more productive and energy
efficient.
Many desktop PCs on the market today come equipped with
power-management software that can automatically switch PCs on and
off. From desktop to datacentre, users should look for computers
and servers that consume less energy and enable more performance
per watt.
There are also benefits to be had from investing in techniques
such as server consolidation and virtualisation, which not only
reduce energy consumption, but also make better use of existing
hardware.
For a large datacentre, the cost of powering and cooling servers
can soon exceed the cost of the hardware.
Virtualisation ensures that server and storage resources are
better used, thus requiring less power to do more.
Companies should also encourage the use of mobile technologies.
As the internet, e-mail and web conferencing make it easier to
manage information, the need for carbon-intensive travel is
reduced.
Technologies such as
3G mobile broadband enable employees to stay connected wherever
they are without the need for travel.
According to a Forum for the Future study, 25% of the UK's
carbon emissions are the result of personal transportation.
Investment in mobile technologies will help mitigate this
trend.
Finally, businesses looking to make a difference can invest in
proper disposal of unwanted computer equipment. A survey by
research firm IDC has found that the sector responsible for
managing the recycling of unwanted equipment is in the midst of a
transformation, evolving from a relatively new sector to one with
established processes and metrics.
Legislation is also changing how businesses collect, treat and
recycle electronic goods.
The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment directive now
applies to any company manufacturing electronic products for the EU
market.
Regardless of size and location, every business can become an
environmental leader by embracing simple but aggressive
processes.
Just as quickly as information technology transformed the world,
the simplest forms of innovation are enabling creative,
cost-effective and efficient ways of working. Whether virtual or
otherwise, this will ultimately safeguard the environment for
generations to come.