Enjeux du Green IT

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Green IT: When ecology and IT go hand in hand

Today, the digital sector accounts for almost 5% of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide, i.e. a mass of carbon in the atmosphere equivalent to the weight of 200,000 Eiffel Towers, and 2.5% of the national carbon footprint. This shows the real impact of digital technology on the environment, even though its intangible nature tends to make it invisible.

In a society where ecological awareness continues to grow, Green IT is becoming a real issue of governance and sustainability within companies, particularly through CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) strategies.

In practical terms, what is Green IT?

Mixing ecology and IT, it can be defined by the implementation of approaches aimed at reducing the impacts caused by the use of digital technologies, with the aim of preserving natural resources. In particular, the aim is to limit energy and greenhouse gas consumption, reduce the carbon footprint, and democratise eco-responsible practices.

The challenges of Green IT

The main aim of Green IT is to make digital technology both beneficial to the environment and to people. In this sense, the challenges of sustainable IT will be to reduce the economic, social and environmental footprint of digital technology; to reduce the sector’s harmful effects through manufacturing, recycling and extending the lifespan of products; to make digital technology accessible and ethical for all.

Measures combining simplicity and effectiveness

Reducing digital pollution in companies essentially involves implementing good practices, eco-responsible practices to which all members of a company must be made aware and trained :

  • use automatic shutdown systems,
  • think about turning off certain devices,
  • reduce impressions,
  • reduce travel by using videoconferencing,
  • sort your mailbox regularly…

So many practices and automations need to be enshrined in usage in order to improve the footprint of organisations and move towards a genuine ecological transition.

Green IT at we+ and within the ecosystem

At we+, respecting the environment through responsible digital is one of our concerns. That’s why the firm has signed the Responsible Digital Charter proposed by the INR, a text that summarises its commitments to sustainable digital, more respectful of the environment and more ethical towards society.

And, every year, Alan Allman Associates takes part in Cyber World CleanUp Day with all the European firms in the ecosystem.

The operation takes place in 2 stages:

  • Increasing consultants’ awareness of the environmental cost of digital.
  • Action through data cleansing.

All the firms played the game, with the result that many consultants became more aware.