News
Government plans to make its IT systems carbon neutral
12 August 2008
The British Government plans to slash the carbon footprint of its
computer systems, which are estimated to be responsible for up to 20% of
carbon emissions generated by Government offices — around 460,000 tonnes
a year.
The Government, which has published it plan in a strategy document
[1], aims to make energy consumption of information and communications
technologies (ICT) carbon neutral within four years.
The target applies to Central Government departments and will see
energy consumption of ICT carbon neutral by 2012. Energy consumption
will be reduced as much as possible and what is left will be offset. By
2020 Central Government ICT will be carbon neutral throughout its entire
lifetime, including manufacture and disposal.
Departments will be asked to take 18 key steps, including:
- automatically switching off desktop computers outside working
hours. Turning off every desktop PC in central Government for the 16
hours that fall outside the standard working day could save up to
117,500 tonnes of CO2 per year.
- Reusing as much computer equipment as possible. Most of the
energy used in the lifetime of a PC is consumed during manufacture.
Extending its use or re-using it elsewhere will save both energy and
money.
- Auditing data centres and server use to make sure they are
running at maximum efficiency. A server that is switched on but idle
still uses up to 70% of the power it consumers when fully
operational.
Cabinet Office Minister Tom Watson said: “Worldwide, computers are
responsible for the same quantity of carbon emissions as the aviation
industry. That's why we're offering practical solutions to a growing
problem.
“We are the first Government in the world to formally set out exactly
what we're going to do to make our ICT systems carbon neutral within
four years. We won't achieve this just by offsetting but by making
serious changes to the way we do business.
“But it's not just about the Government. I hope that the steps we're
announcing today — including simple ideas such as making sure everything
is turned off when not in use, defaulting to double-sided printing where
possible and reusing old equipment for as long as possible — will also
be picked up by private companies and individuals. Lots of small actions
make a big impact. Between us we can make a real difference to drive
down energy consumption.”
Andrew Lee, Chief Executive of the Sustainable Development Commission
(SDC), said: “This is a welcome move and a radical target. As the SDC
reported earlier this year, government departments have a long way to go
on reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions, and tackling IT
will be crucial to this effort. We look forward to seeing departments
build on these first steps with sustained and decisive action.
“The Cabinet Office has already demonstrated how simple changes can
deliver huge carbon savings, and we hope this initiative will go much
further, taking a fundamental look at how IT is designed and configured
for the future.”
Reference
1. Cabinet Office. Greening Government ICT. Efficient,
Sustainable, Responsible. London, 2008.
www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/~/media/assets/www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/
publications/reports/greening_government/greening_government_ict%20pdf.ashx
Further information
The UK Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs code of best
practice for carbon offsetting:
www.defra.gov.uk/environment/climatechange/uk/
carbonoffset/codeofpractice.htm
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