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Twitter Share to Linkedin Jacques M. Jean is the founder & CEO at TechFides . He helps organizations build & execute world class IT strategies to optimize operations. We’re multiple decades into the exploding industry of “green” or “sustainable” technology, so we’re all familiar with what that is. Broadly speaking, green or sustainable technology encompasses the application of scientific and technological advancements to create environmentally friendly goods and services. This includes renewable energy, eco-conscious transportation methods, efficient waste management systems and solutions geared toward enhancing energy efficiency and food production—all heady ideas (and actual, implemented solutions) designed to prolong the ability of 8 billion people to survive on this big blue ball. We aren’t close to having all the answers yet, but there are enough smart, talented people working in this space that we may be able to make it work for our kids and grandkids. So that’s what we’ll call the "outward-facing," macro view of the green, or sustainable, concept. There’s a flip side to that—a more inward-facing, micro approach—and this includes the things we consume and utilize in our daily lives. This is not quite as micro as the personal or household level, where most of us have been recycling when possible (although plastic recycling has turned out to be largely a scam, but that’s a topic for another day), or made the switch to electric vehicles and more energy-efficient household appliances. Somewhere in between those two global and singular human points are the thousands of industries and millions of businesses worldwide, many of which support the green tech movement, but exponentially more that operate outside of that space and that consume resources to produce the goods or services they provide. Port Of Baltimore May Regain Permanent Channel Next Month Army Corps Of Engineers Says Sephora’s Spring Sale Starts Today—Here’s What Our Editors Are Buying Trump Media Stock (DJT) Needs To Rise Soon This is where the concept of "sustainable IT" is picking up speed. Sustainable IT (or "green IT," although there’s a slight distinction between the two) is essentially "designing, manufacturing, operating and disposing of servers, PCs and other computer-related products in an environmentally friendly manner." Why should you care about it? Besides the obvious marketing benefit of being a “green” company that acts as a steward of the environment and communities it serves, there are other tangible benefits of incorporating this element into organizational strategy. Cost savings is a factor that no good leaders are going to dismiss. $4 million in savings from a hardware recycling program or an added year of life to PCs might look like a rounding error in a $40 billion-revenue global enterprise, but it will absolutely resonate in the IT function. And perhaps the most critical aspect of sustainable IT is the management of security risk. If you’ve ever worked in a large business, there’s a good chance you’ve encountered desk drawers or closets (locked or unlocked) with old PCs, mobile phones and more. Without documented processes and governance for hardware disposal, employees don’t know what to do with old or end-of-life assets, many of which contain barely protected, sensitive company data. What does sustainable IT actually look like? Sustainable IT comes in many different forms and practices, and it’s constantly evolving, improving and growing. There’s an array of strategies that focus on the development of innovative approaches that reduce environmental impact. Sustainable IT is commonly broken down into three phases: 1. Upstream: Where are your IT assets being sourced from? Are they being manufactured with energy efficiency in mind? Do supplier distribution logistics minimize emissions? 2. Use: How much energy do your IT assets consume? How efficient is the hardware and software you use? How efficient is the mechanical and electrical infrastructure around your IT hardware? 3. End-Of-Lifecycle: What happens to your assets when they are no longer in use, whether due to obsolescence or user status? Sustainable IT focuses on optimizing the operational lifecycle of IT assets, where a fundamentally sound asset management model can tell you where practically any piece of networked hardware is, how it’s being utilized and, crucially, if it’s not being used. With robust asset management, unused hardware can be redeployed if it’s still within its operational lifecycle, or located and securely disposed of if it’s not. And the post-lifecycle of IT hardware matters, too—is your hardware recyclable, or does it end up in a landfill? PC and server CPUs should be harvested for the precious metals they contain, primarily gold. Certified disposal/recycling companies will typically offset some of your disposal and data-wiping costs with the value of the recyclable precious metals—in some cases, these services are even free. Here are some key areas that can help promote a more sustainable IT model in a business: • Energy Efficiency: Low-power processors, LED displays, power management policies and the availability of virtualization and cloud computing can optimize energy consumption by sheer scale. • Renewable Energy: If you have multiple and sizeable data centers scattered across geographies, see what renewable energy sources are available, including wind and solar. • Hardware Composition And Capabilities: Look for assets with ENERGY STAR, EPEAT and/or TCO certifications, relative to cost. • Software: If your company develops software for in-house use, optimize code to reduce energy consumption and increase efficiency; if you sell software, share your strides with your customers (it’s a feature!). • Managed Service Providers: Weigh the benefits of outsourcing some or all of your computing needs to companies that offer these services on scales that make them far more efficient than most singular entities can be on their own. • Documentation And Governance: Develop and implement procedures for hardware procurement, usage and disposal, and enforce them. • Measurement And Reporting: Set standards, KPIs, benchmarks and goals for your organization’s operational consumption and review them regularly; visibility of consumption is often surprising. • Lifecycle Management: Know where your assets are and whether and how they’re being used—it’s paramount in data security. Bolster your asset management capabilities and expertise. What now? Every organization is different, so determining if technology sustainability matters in a given organization will always be a company-specific exercise. Some of it happens organically (try buying an incandescent lightbulb today), and some of it requires attention and effort to incorporate into enterprise strategy. But the clear benefits of optimization, cost savings and data security certainly make sustainable IT a concept worth digging into if you haven’t already. Forbes Technology Council is an invitation-only community for world-class CIOs, CTOs and technology executives. Do I qualify? Editorial Standards Print Reprints & Permissions