ICT powers an ‘always on’ world. And while the benefits of technology are far-reaching, the amount of energy required to keep our technological devices functioning increases each year.
Similarly, lower production costs and rapid technological advances mean that consumers and businesses upgrade products more frequently, creating new recycling challenges.
Environmental sustainability is no longer a choice for ICT companies, but a business imperative. AIIA is working with its members to minimise the industry’s collective environmental footprint.
The direct impact of information and communications technology on the environment for Australia has not been recently measured. The last time any research was conducted waS in 2005, when a study concluded that the use of information technology by commercial enterprises in Australia consumed electricity that in turn was responsible for just over 1.5 percent of Australian greenhouse gas emissions. This could now be anywhere between 6-8 percent considering that nearly five years have passed and that along with the rapid adoption of new technology, the original figure did not include the public sector, consumers at home, nor telecommunications technology.
In addition to examining and taking measure to reduce our own industry footprint, companies in the ICT Industry are also championing the transformational l role of ICT in a low-carbon economy by looking at ways to assist other industries to meet the challenge of lowering their overall environmental footprint. There is a significant opportunity to implement new technologies that help reduce the other 92-94 percent greenhouse gas emissionsacross the economy – through activities such as optiming fleet management, more intelligent utility grids, electronic bills and payments, video-conferencing and improved building management systems.
Recognising the need to inform Australian organisations about Green IT practices, AIIA has published an eBook: Greening Your Business through Technology.
The resutl is Australia's most comprehensive and current industry resource on GreenIT. It reflects a commitment from AIIA and the technology sector to engage closely with the business community on the transformational role of ICT: working together we can fashion a low carbon economy.
AIIA is currently involved with a number of sustainability projects and programs, including:
developing a voluntary industry-driven recycling and product stewardship strategy, called
Byteback , which was established in 2007 with
Sustainability Victoria progressively rolling out Byteback across Australia as it becomes the national standard for computer equipment recycling
promoting the role that technology-led solutions play in the reduction of CO2 and Australia’s carbon emissions
working with government and industry towards the adoption of national standards on the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS)
supporting AIIA member companies in their sustainability endeavours.
Contact
Josh Millen, AIIA Corporate Social Responsibility Policy Manager, (03) 9326 9937