In one of the first energy-saving initiatives of its kind, the Australian Information Industry Association (AIIA) – the peak body of the Australian Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry – has signed a Memorandum of Understanding  with Computers Off Australia.

Computers Off Australia (COA) is a non-profit campaign designed to accelerate the implementation of energy saving measures in both hardware and software applications. As well as promoting awareness of the energy savings available to the ICT sector and technology end-user communities, COA actively promotes the potential for technology solutions to drive energy efficiency across all Australian industry.

“The ICT industry has an important role to play in tackling climate change, starting with the reduction of energy consumption in our own sector” said AIIA CEO Ian Birks. “We are very pleased to be working with Computers Off Australia to promote both the greening of the ICT industry, as well as ICT’s critical role in providing energy-efficient solutions for a sustainable and low-carbon economy in Australia.”

Mr Birks added that AIIA, with the support of COA and others in the ICT industry, have already provided a number of complimentary measures to support the Government proposals in relation to the adoption of the US Energy Star Program as the basis of an efficiency standard for PCs and monitors.

As part of the MoU, AIIA will promote ICT energy-efficiency certifications (or ‘organisation labels’) provided by COA to AIIA members and clients, as well as publically supporting and promoting the Computers Off Australia campaign in many other areas.

Computers Off Australia CEO, Dr Idris Sulaiman, welcomed today’s outcome. “By pooling our knowledge, and resources, AIIA and COA will be able to drive sustainable ICT initiatives further and faster across the ICT industry and major user communities,” said Dr Sulaiman.

“Additionally, now is the time that the ICT industry needs to show the Australian community the critical role that our products and services will play delivering energy savings in all areas of our economy – particularly significant in the face of the current financial downturn,” continued Dr Sulaiman.

“Not only can we greatly reduce the greenhouse emissions associated with computer and telecommunications technologies in Australia and the Asia-Pacific region, our industry as a whole can make a very significant contribution to the green transformation of all industry sectors.”

“This is a statement of the ICT industry’s commitment to action in the face of the challenges presented by environmental sustainability and climate change,” said Mr Birks. “This Memorandum creates a unique partnership with a range of short- and long-term initiatives that will fast-track the implementation of sustainable technology initiatives, focus on the education of ICT employees, and examine the potential for new and specialised roles in our industry.”

“We are committed to working together to demonstrate the potential for technology solutions to reduce carbon emissions across the Australian community,” concluded Dr Sulaiman.

The signing took place in Canberra’s AIIA Office.