If you work a corporate job, it can be hard to know where you’re best placed to make a difference. Apart from greening your pension, what else matters in your day-to-day work life?
Enter BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, who are here to help people learn about green IT and the best way to implement sustainable policies at work and at home.
Why green IT?
IT consumes 4-6% of global electricity, with the internet accounting for 3.7% of global greenhouse gas emissions. In the UK, the tech industry is also one of the fastest growing, leading to rising energy use across the country.
There’s a lot of focus on other professional sectors, such as transport and manufacturing, but the significant emissions that digital technology contributes to can often get overlooked. Everything from sending emails, to data storage, to video calls, comes with a carbon cost, alongside solutions that are already starting to be discussed. For example, the International Energy Agency has also found that cloud computing can save up to 65% of the energy of traditional data centres, potentially saving up to 600 million metric tonnes of CO2 by 2025.
In most companies, employees’ work revolves around digital devices, not just for those who work in IT or tech. Most businesses and roles will use technology of varying degrees, from answering a mobile phone or sending an email to complex tech roles. And with IT infrastructure continually pushing new boundaries, technology could be responsible for a large portion of a companiy’s emissions and energy costs.
Today’s IT professionals must find innovative ways to support climate targets if we are to achieve a just transition. Whilst technology produces carbon, it can also provide solutions to the climate crisis and become an essential part of improving energy efficiency within organisations. If done right, these solutions can help the world achieve both net zero and justice for all much more rapidly.
For those working in offices, making a green IT plan is a great place to begin.
BCS’ Green IT courses
BCS’ new Green IT e-learning modules show people how to reduce emissions by using technology more wisely. They help people make powerful changes, whether they’re shaping organisational strategy and decisions or thinking personally, and whether they work in a tech role or not.
For those who work in sustainability or IT, there are three modules you can complete to develop an in-depth understanding. For those who are more interested in their personal contribution, just taking the first one can be enough. The topics they cover are:
- Module 1 – Discovering Green IT: An introduction to technology sustainability: for individuals looking to gain basic understandings of Green IT and change behaviours. You’ll explore topics such as the key components of Green IT and its effects, reducing waste through closed-loop processes, and the steps to take to reduce tech’s carbon footprint.
- Module 2 – Driving Sustainability: Exploring green IT policies and their impact: learning more about Green IT to influence strategic decisions within an organisation, exploring green IT policies and their impact on the environment and the tech industry. This looks at the difference between sustainable practices and greenwashing, while examining green policy, ways to reduce E-waste, and how to create a carbon reduction plan.
- Module 3 – Avoiding Greenwashing: Identifying and addressing the risks and roles in green IT: helping those responsible for sustainability or IT strategies to ensure their organisation is truly making a positive impact. Learn how to identify the risks associated with green IT claims, and explore the interactions between technology, sustainability, and business. This delves into spotting greenwashing, the roles involved in Green IT and how to track sustainability, the key components of a Green IT transformation plan, and the steps of a Green IT audit.
The benefits
Implementing green policies at work can lead to more chances for learning, increased discussions on climate at work, and multiple benefits within the workplace. For example:
- Reusing and refurbishing IT equipment is more environmentally friendly and usually cheaper than buying new
- Reusable, green IT products allow for longer maintenance cycles and replacing devices less frequently
- More energy efficient technology can reduce energy consumption, energy bills and emissions
- Raising awareness and setting an example to employees, customers, industry sector and stakeholders
Other ways to get involved
Plus, if this is an area you’re passionate about, there are also other ways to go even further. The BCS Green IT group also helps people get together with others who are are passionate about sustainable computing to share your opinions, processes and strategies.
Overall, I think for anyone working in a corporate environment these are really useful tools to learn and grow. To achieve a just transition across all sectors we need every person and every industry to get involved. So remember, if you’re in the corporate world you aren’t powerless at your job. There are still things you can do.
