Green IT is recession proof

Market research firm Forrester Research says sales of green IT equipment will stay strong during the global economic downturn.

And this won’t be despite the recession, but because of it.

The fact is, green IT is growing in popularity because it helps companies to cut costs.

Forrester surveyed over 1,000 global companies for the research, 10% of which said they will be accelerating green projects, 38% will be maintaining the current pace, and just 5% will be cutting back.

The rest of those questioned were not yet sure what effect the recession would have on their plans for green IT.

Almost six out of ten firms said eco-friendliness is a factor when they choose new IT products, whilst 92% were aware that green IT is an option.

Out of the firms pursuing green IT goals, over two thirds said reducing energy-related costs is the key motivating factor.

For firms based outside the US, improving brand image was also an important consideration.

This is one of the first signs that the recession will encourage companies to look for more sustainable business models.

With IT at the centre of many of our lives now, that’s a big positive for the green agenda.