Why Do We Need Green IT?: "'The problem is that too many 'green' technology claims are just a bunch of hot CO2', according to Matthew McKenzie on the Enterprise Efficiency blog. 'Green' is a source of incredible marketing opportunities, and the chance to sell complex concepts and technology, wrapped up in easily accessible feel-good language. As Matthew goes on to say, It all looks great on paper, but it leaves CIOs hanging when it comes to one vital question: How will it really affect the bottom line? That sounds heartless, but it's true. The sooner we face up to it, the sooner we can do the right things for the right reasons.
The article goes on to dig at virtualization, a much touted savior of the world's climate from the evils of too many servers burning too much electricity. The same could be said of almost any business change that switches off a bunch of unused computer equipment. Hey, why not persuade people to turn off their PCs and monitors at night before they go home? Wouldn't an office full of dozens of powered down, rather than swimming fish screensaver PCs have a big impact at very little cost? I can enforce it - just hear the silence and picture the darkness when I throw that big Frankenstein style power breaker off at 6pm on the dot."
