Sustainable ICT
Sustainability is increasing in importance and stature across the public sector and this is no different within the ICT arena where sustainability is a hot topic, and here to stay.
There are many ways by which organisations can ‘green' their ICT, particularly in the area of reducing energy consumption.
PCs and laptops
- Remove active screensavers and switch monitors to standby when inactive
- Enable active power management on desktops (standby / hibernate after a defined period of inactivity) and shutdown PCs after office-hours
- Specify low-power consumption CPUs and high-efficiency Power Supply Units
- Ensure re-use of equipment that is no longer required but is still serviceable. If re-use is not possible recycle or ensure green disposal.
- Consider Thin Client technologies
- Extend refresh cycle where appropriate
Other office ICT equipment
- Apply timer switches to non-networked technology and printers
- Set default green printing including duplex and grey scale
- Optimise power-saving sleep mode on printers
- Consolidate printers and other devices (e.g. mobiles and PDAs)
Data Centres
- Specify low-power consumption servers and high-efficiency Power Supply Units
- Optimise servers
- Reduce cooling in the data centre to appropriate levels
- Decommission servers and data disks which are running but not providing services.
- Ensure re-use of equipment that is no longer required but is still serviceable
For Central Civil Government, agencies and some NDPBs, there are minimum standards in place (Sustainability Quick Wins) which must be met, covering elements of the purchase of IT equipment such as energy consumption and recycled content.
Achieving these standards will help government departments to meet their SOGE (Sustainable Operation in the Government Estate) targets.
In addition, the Energy Services Directive (ESD) requires that all public sector bodies buy energy efficient appliances. In the UK, energy efficient appliances are defined as those meeting the Quick Wins which include mandatory standards on energy consumption. Therefore, where energy efficiency is part of the Quick Win standard, all public sector customers have a legal obligation to buy complaint electrical products.
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If you have any questions relating to Sustainable ICT please contact our Customer Service Desk on 0345 410 2222.