With the dawning of corporate social responsibility, CIOs have the opportunity to use green IT initiatives to move their business ahead of the competition. At the intersection of information technology management and sustainability, there is a significant opportunity to not only reduce operational costs but also to improve operations and gain an edge in the public eye. Green IT can positively impact an organization in a number of ways, with three of the most prominent being:
1. Attraction and retention of talent
Having strong environmental values gives organizations a leg up on their competition by allowing them to better attract talent. According to a recent Ipsos Mori survey, 81 per cent of US respondents would prefer working for a company that has a good reputation for environmental responsibility.
2. Positive public and investor relations
Corporate responsibility is increasingly a concern among consumers and investors. Green initiatives demonstrate your company's values and create customer loyalty. As well, it’s commonly believed that regulation concerning environmental waste is inevitable. Many organizations are taking on sustainable IT initiatives now and, as such, have more opportunities to innovate and choose their own solutions.
3. Superior Financial Performance
On average, green IT initiatives can reduce the IT portion of the energy bill by up to 60 per cent. In the case of reducing energy consumption, projects such as active power management can be inexpensive to implement and provide immediate cost savings.