Gov to prove its environment credentials

Friday, July 25, 2008

Departments will put more pressure on contractors to ensure their products are eco-friendly.

A report from Kable has said departments looking for future IT contracts will look for more than just energy efficient equipment and expect a vendor to offer a range of "green benefits".

'Green IT in the UK public sector' estimated that public sector IT produces 1.4 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually, equating to 0.29 per cent of the UK total. An environmental consultancy, AEA, working on behalf of the report has said this could be reduced by one third.

Reducing travel and a more energy efficient use of buildings are areas in which IT can make a significant contribution to creating savings, the report said. The IT industry could have a greater impact, the report said, by helping government to make more effective use of its estate, reducing transport congestion and changing the behaviour of industry and the public.

Kable's associate director Seyi Agboola said: "The government's effort to reduce its ICT carbon footprint is praiseworthy, but it's a highly complex situation in which large benefits will only be achieved by a much broader effort.

"It needs a grasp of the wide agenda and an appreciation of how technology has developed to respond to a broad range of environmental problems. This is going to become increasingly important as the green agenda takes on a high profile in virtually everything that government does."