Information Technology Council
Green Information Technology Workgroup
Overview
The mission of the Green Information Technology Workgroup (Green IT Workgroup) is to provide a blueprint or roadmap for State government to “green” information technology (IT) operations at the desktop. The original focus of the project was to be on IT systems outside the data center, including desktop systems, “office equipment”, networking gear ordinarily used for connectivity in the workplace, and other workplace-based IT systems. The reason for this initial focus is that much work has already been done or is underway that specifically addresses data centers as an environmental issue.
Outside the data center, there has been no systematic approach to addressing
management of the environmental effects of IT systems, which is a larger and more diffuse problem. To our knowledge, no entity has developed a comprehensive blueprint that pulls together the numerous public and private sector efforts at greening IT into a compelling case and toolkit for action.
However, many State government organizations operate data centers outside of the State’s centralized data centers; the Workgroup has recognized a discussion regarding data center operations may have benefits for those organizations whose IT operations include decentralized data centers.
The vision of the Workgroup is to create a structure and process for developing a statewide conversation about what an overall program for greening IT should be, culminating in a report and roadmap for State agencies to use in initiating more green IT activities. Additionally, products of the Workgroup will include information resources (website), and a toolkit for implementing the roadmap. The Workgroup may elect to convene an Advisory Council that includes public, private, and educational sector stakeholders to provide advice and guidance during the process, and may develop pilot projects to demonstrate key concepts.
The Workgroup will engage thought-leaders and decision-makers in a systematic review of environmental issues associated with IT systems. The ideas and strategies will be synthesized and incorporated into a draft strategic blueprint for action that includes specific resource toolkits for program implementation and a strategic communications plan for education and motivation. These draft documents will be circulated for further review and comment among participants.
The Workgroup’s envisioned products are “works in progress” At this stage, the Workgroup envisions the deliverables of the project will be to publish findings and launch any initial pilot projects that have been identified. Successful completion of the project will result in a roadmap or blueprint for State government action in greening IT operations at the desktop, that may include any of the following:
•Environmentally Preferable Purchasing for IT (current state standards and practices, actual contract specs, contracts and specs developed by other organizations. e.g. City and County government)
•Solid Waste Reduction for IT (paper: waste, recycling, storage, space requirements, transport and storage. Non-paper solid wastes and recycling)
•Energy Consumption Management for IT (desktop PC power management, printer/copier/fax power management, network infrastructure power management, energy efficient products, energy efficient system design. Power management policies and practices)
•Building Space Utilization by and for IT (active IT equipment space and cooling, support system space, power and cooling, infrastructure materials, worker space and space utilization, building cabling and wireless networks)
•IT as Ewaste and UWaste (CA toxic waste management standards and requirements, e and u waste management practices, procurement and contracting practices, waste reduction strategies, building cable design and management practices, “abandoned cable” management practices)
•Toxics Elimination from IT Products (Design for Environment, procurement policies, the precautionary principle for IT)
What are your thoughts? Where should we go with this?