incorporating environmental objectives - a clear economic advantage
“A lot of entrepreneurs hope to reconcile economic performance with environmental protection,” explains Philippe Eon, Customer
Marketing Director for the Major Accounts Department at Orange Business Services.” Still, how many of them realize that these
apparently contradictory objectives actually constitute the same challenge? Do all companies even know that global responses
like Green IT exist?”
According to Philippe Eon, improving economic performance is closely associated with promoting
environmental solutions. “This is becoming common sense,” he adds.
the need for action: reducing energy consumption today
Several factors are contributing to the current rise in energy prices:
- the gradual depletion of the world’s natural hydrocarbon resources (oil, gas and coal)
- constantly increasing demand (and the resulting tensions around the supply)
- continually rising prices on the world market for CO 2 emission permits established by the Kyoto Protocol
Without changing the way companies manage their operations, energy costs will continue to claim an ever-increasing share of business’s operating budgets. “Companies must work to quickly reduce their energy consumption,” Philippe Eon says.
solutions to meet business and environmental challenges
One way for businesses to meet these challenges is to conduct a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of their products. This procedure makes it possible to define a product’s environmental profile by measuring, for example, the amount of energy used at each stage of production.
LCA can be applied to Information and Communication Technology (ICT). It helps to identify the main actions required to reduce information systems’ energy consumption. Once possible solutions have been identified, a Green IT approach can be adopted.
ICT solutions can also replace “physical” carbon-producing actions. One example is substituting videoconferences for in-person meetings.
In conclusion, environmental and economic concerns go hand in hand. By lowering your carbon emissions, you are also reducing your energy costs. Adopting an environmental approach is not a luxury or purely a communications initiative: it's economic common sense.
more
The energy sector produces 25% of the world’s greenhouse gases and 80% of CO2 emissions.
Electricity production
alone generates 40% of CO2 emissions.
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send to a colleagueGreen IT: a top priority for companies
By implementing Green IT solutions, companies can meet both economic and ecological challenges. Philippe Eon, Customer Marketing
Director for Major Accounts at Orange Business Services, and initiator of a “circle” of sustainable development directors
from leading French companies, discusses how Green IT is a priority for companies today.”
