Green IT
Applying sound environmental practices to your technology just makes sense for business. Green technologies not only help the environment, but also save money and improve business operations.
Recycle – Computers, monitors, and other electronics contain toxic materials that can harm the environment and create an estimated 70% of the toxins found in US landfills. There are recycling programs and companies who can take your obsolete equipment off your hands and dispose of it correctly.
Reuse – Gently used PCs and other equipment can be donated to a nonprofit organization—some tax incentives are offered for this. Be sure that any machines you donate are wiped clean of any potentially sensitive data and that the charity or school you choose has the resources to handle this type of donation.
Reduce – Learn to identify the worst e-waste offenders and make the most of your resources. Reduce cost and resource usage by implementing green solutions throughout your business.
A very helpful article on reducing e-waste and utilizing more “Green IT” in your company’s business operations, “5 Steps to Green IT,” can be found at http://www.eweek.com/c/a/IT-Infrastructure/5-Steps-to-Green-IT/.
The article states the importance of companies building Green IT solutions into their budgets and RFPs, not only for environmental reasons, but for significant savings.
It stresses that businesses need to create a recycling plan that will address how they dispose of obsolete equipment and to hold hardware vendors responsible for recycling and disposal. Sun Microsystems, Microsoft, and Apple are examples given that all have impressive e-waste reducing programs in place.
Tags: e-waste, environment, Green IT, Gren, Recyle
