HePIS has conducted a survey in order to measure IT Managers’ awareness regarding Green ICT.
The sample consists of 44 respondents working in companies that operate both in the Greek private and public sector, as well as NGOs, all of which have big IT departments.
2. GREEN ICT SURVEY
The pervasive nature of ICT today to all industrial and business domains is unquestionable. A
vastness of publications mention that ICT can be put at the core of energy efficiency as it is
considered to have the strength to tackle the problems associated to excessive energy
consumption.
Furthermore, ICT is characterized as the enabler of energy efficiency; ICT professionals are
the ones who can facilitate the process of energy saving in their organizational structures
through research, implementation and adoption of several techniques, practices and tactics.
Moreover, ICT-enabled solutions not only increase efficiency of energy saving but also
decrease the cost associated to the usage of IT equipments. Therefore, it is suggested that
ICT contributions constitute an added value for businesses that can utilize them in order to
gain a positive impact that will be definitely rewarding in a long-term basis.
One of the aims of the current study is to investigate whether the ideas presented above,
reflect the actual picture of Greek business in 2010. The present survey has been conducted
in order to measure IT Managers’ awareness related to environmental issues; specifically
issues that refer to the reduction of energy consumption in an organizational context. The
sample consists of 44 respondents working in companies that operate both in the private
and public sector, as well as NGOs, all of which have big IT departments. A questionnaire
comprising 25 questions was delivered via email and HEPIS’ newsletter to 2,000 IT
Managers. The findings can be summarized as follows:
There is a general positive attitude towards recycling. The majority of respondents
mentioned that their companies engage in recycling in various ways. These are
illustrated in the following charts:
When you have to remove an old PC from usage, what
procedure does the company follow?
None of the above 7%
We arrange for it to be collected by an
64%
electronics recycling company.
We donate it to organizations with
11%
charitable status
We store it until we decide what we will
18%
do
We throw it away 0%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%
3. Do you use recycled printer supplies/ catridges?
I don't know
9%
No
27%
Yes
64%
When you have to withdraw an ink cartridge or toner, what
procedures does the company follow?
None of the We throw it away
above 14%
16%
We return it to We return it for a
the manufacturer small fee to a
company which company that
has a system of recycles printer
waste collection accessories
40% 30%
More than half of the respondents stated that when they make a purchase decision,
they take into consideration the IT product’s energy consumption.
4. For many people the product's energy consumption is one of
the factors considered when making purchase decisions. Do
you take this into account when making a purchase?
I don't
know
18%
No
16%
Yes
66%
The analysis of data shows that there are systems in place which ensure that office
equipments are turned off at the end of the day.
Is there a system in your company that checks if employees
turn off their PCs, printers, monitors and any other
equipments when they leave their desks at the end of the
day?
No
34%
Yes
66%
However, the results of the study indicate that management is not always committed to
engage the workforce in ‘green practices’. This conclusion is generally supported by the
following findings:
Almost half of the IT Managers participating in the survey acknowledged that there
are no government directives/ control systems for energy saving in their
organizations.
5. Are there government directives and/ or control systems for
energy saving in your company?
I don't
know Yes
18% 34%
No
48%
The majority of respondents reported that there are no systems for monitoring
employees’ energy consumption reduction.
Have you developed any systems for monitoring the
employees' energy consumption reduction?
Yes
14%
I don't know
18%
No
68%
When it comes to printing, 55% of the interviewees stated that there are no
restriction policies in place regarding the amount of pages an employee is allowed to
print at a given period of time. Also, double-sided printing is used as a default option
only by 15 out of 44 companies (34%) that participated in the study.
6. Are there any restriction policies on printing?
I don't know
7%
Yes
39%
No
54%
The vast majority of companies under investigation do not have systems that
automatically switch off the lights in rooms that no one uses.
Is there a system that automatically switches off the lights in
rooms where no motion is detected for some time?
I don't know
5%
Yes
5%
No
90%
7. The sample is evenly distributed when it comes to purchasing decisions and selection of
suppliers.
More specifically, whilst 43% of the sample takes into consideration whether
purchased IT equipments are made of recycled products, 41% does not pay
attention of that criteria.
When you decide to purchase IT equipment, do you take
into consideration whether the product is made of recycled
materials?
I don't
know
16% Yes
43%
No
41%
Furthermore, 34% stated that one of the criteria used for the selection of supplier is
his adherence to ISO 14000 procedures which certify that processes used meet the
requirements of Green practices. However, 39% acknowledged that this is not the
case.
The procedures of ISO 14000 certify that the process meets
the requirements of Green Practices. When you have to
decide about the possible supplier of your products/
services, do you measure if the supplier puts these
procedures in practice?
Yes
I don't know 34%
27%
No
39%
8. The above synopsis of findings illustrate that although there is an increased awareness
towards the issue of energy efficiency and energy saving, actual practices within
organizations cannot be characterized as ‘Green practices’. There is a general notion of
sensitization towards the adoption of Green practices in Greek organizational structures, but
the measures that are currently in place need to be supported by the management in a
greater extent. This calls for a more intensive approach towards the implementation of
‘Green practices’ in daily operations within Greek organizations.