Green ICT

So says Loretta Johnson, general manager, policy and government relations for the Australian Information Industry Association (AIIA).

Johnson was speaking at a recent KANZ (Korea, Australia, New Zealand) broadband summit in Auckland.

Right round the world, the stellar growth of the information and communications technology industry (ICT) has been pushing up greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Right now, says Johnson, the global ICT business pumps out around two percent of total global CO2.

This puts it on a par with the airline industry.

In just over 10 years’ time ICT could account for closer to six percent of the global total.

This year, both Australia and New Zealand have firmed up plans to roll out new improved broadband networks.

In September this year our government announced plans to inject $1.5 billion into making ultra-fast broadband available to 75 percent of New Zealanders.

A faster, more reliable broadband network could help decrease New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions from ICT.

Into the Clouds

Andrew Fox, New Zealand manager, IBM Systems and Technology Group, says an improved nationwide broadband service could suddenly unlock the potential of cloud computing where dynamically-scalable, and often virtualized, resources are provided as a service over the net.

“With cloud computing you no longer need your [ICT] systems all sitting at your place consuming energy and floor space or needing cooling. You can just plug your cable in the wall and use someone else’s.

“And an organisation running a cloud for other people – be it a public cloud or a private one - could build a very energy-efficient system that will be much more efficient than an ICT system that people could build for themselves.”

Fox adds that a data centre - built with energy efficiency and green infrastructure in mind from the bottom up - would give ‘massive gains’ if done right from the beginning.

“And if that allows individuals to turn their systems off, there will be significant benefits. That will be about as green as you can get.”

Gen-i business manager integrated communications David Sylvester says more accessible and cheaper bandwidth could make the use of video ‘much more of a reality’ as better broadband equates to a better user experience.

He also predicts more people will use desktop video instead of hopping on a plane.

The concept of green ICT covers a broad spectrum.

A common view is that the IT industry can help scrub up the planet through its own actions across a product’s lifecycle.

This encompasses every step from manufacture, procurement and use in an organisation, through to final re-use, recycling and disposal.

There’s also an argument for the knock-on effect.