Green IT heats up

There's growing pressure on private companies to invest in green IT, but the return on investment is hard to quantify, according to a new study from CompTIA.

The study finds that green IT is a priority for two-thirds of organizations surveyed. But the study also found that the ROI is a tough sell for 80 percent of organizations.

"Some green IT purchases have longer payback periods," said Tim Herbert, vice president of research, CompTIA. "But the survey data suggests many organizations are willing to invest in greener IT products even when the return isn't realized immediately."

An article from eChannelLine.com reports that the survey found that 60 percent of organizations have in place partial or comprehensive green IT strategies that cover issues such as energy consumption, equipment usage, recycling and managing their carbon footprint.

The study also found that 75 percent of organizations expect to have a comprehensive green IT strategy in place in the next five years. But is that too long to wait for a plan that could save a company money in energy consumption? Why are agencies taking so long and shouldn't they be moving faster?

The survey found there are obstacles faced by companies trying to go green. That includes implementation cost (65 percent), a lack of resources (47 percent) and the difficulty of calculating the ROI of green initiatives (35 percent).

"Regulatory compliance issues and positive publicity may be driving interest in environmentally friendly IT products and services," said Herbert. "But having in place a dedicated or executive-level champion may also help drive adoption of environmentally friendly practices in the absence of a demonstrable return."

For more on green IT and its obstacles:
- see this eChannelLine.com article

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