Recession impedes energy efficient IT

Businesses are wasting money buying energy-inefficient computing equipment, new research discovered.

A study by CDW Corporation for its 2009 Energy Efficiency IT Report found that although firms are doing more to improve IT energy efficiency compared to last year, a new focus on short-term financial gain threatens to undo their efforts.

“Under extreme budget pressure in a recessionary economy, the number one IT purchasing concern is the current cost of equipment and services,” said Mark Gambill, CDW vice president.

“While IT executives are trying to do the right thing, some may sacrifice greater long-term savings from reduced energy use by downgrading the importance of energy efficiency in the purchase equation.”

Companies can reduce costs by up to 17% by using energy efficient equipment, the report said.

CDW said reducing energy consumption doesn’t have to be complicated.

“Simply asking the IT department to reduce its energy costs yields hard dollar savings,” Gambill said.

“And incentivising the IT department to reduce energy use - whether with financial, performance or other rewards - helps prioritize energy efficiency efforts.”