Maric Boudreau and Rick Watson are in the early stages of research that involves monitoring "Green IT," a new environmental movement to combat the startling and alarming fact that the global-wide use of PCs, servers, and telecom networks produces as much greenhouse gas as all of the world's airplanes. And for these two MIS professors and a collaborator from Georgia State, there's much more to Green IT than just the computer-generated pollution that's making news today.
"There are actually three strategies," says Boudreau. "The first one is lowering emissions - that's what most companies are focusing on. The second one is cradle-to-cradle design. The third one is actually the use of cleaner technology altogether."
Boudreau cites numerous examples of companies focusing on the first strategy to reduce carbon dioxide emissions with more sustainable products.
Citigroup unveiled plans for a state-of-the-art data center that will reduce energy use by 75 percent, Hewlett-Packard and Dell are committing to recycle electronic products, and Google and Intel have partnered to create energy-efficient computers and components with the Climate Savers Computer Initiative.
"The major producers of hardware are creating better designs that are more energy efficient, but we think that is only the first stage," says Watson. "Really, you have to understand how you can use information systems to make all sorts of other workplace processes efficient as well. Extending the lifecycle is one thing, but what you really want to do is track all the workplace components so that you can recycle them later - and know how to recycle them."
"Herman Miller is a good example of a company that is working on this goal," says Boudreau of the global provider of office furniture. "When they dismantle a chair, their ambition is to use 100 percent of that chair in other products."
But how do information systems support this environmentally conscious approach?
"This initiative led to the creation of an information system and database allowing Herman Miller to assess the extent to which a final product meets the goal of their cradle-to-cradle ideal," says Boudreau. "Herman Miller can evaluate the components it acquires from its suppliers, their exact chemistry and sustainable properties. All of that sequencing is very intensive information and the need to support this design philosophy is how information systems can help."
Boudreau cites Sun Microsystems' Open Work initiative as a major way to curtail pollution and waste and save energy at the same time.
"Sun Microsystems has about 43 percent of its workforce participating in this program, which utilizes 115 flexible office locations worldwide. The Open Work initiative eliminates a lot of physical infrastructure because employees are encouraged to work from wherever they happen to be located. Again, that's impossible without IS."
Zipcar, the Cambridge, Mass.-based car sharing business, is reducing emissions by taking an estimated 15 cars off the road for every Zipcar introduced to a community.
"Our point is that the hardware and energy saving of computers is just the beginning," says Watson. "If we're really going to make his society greener and create sustainable business practices, we have to use computers to create more sustainable systems. Very few people are looking at that. We think there's a much bigger picture."
According to Professor Boudreau, here are 10 easy ways to be more energy efficient and environmentally conscious with technology.
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