Green Information Technology British Standards

Green Information Technology

While there is no single definition of Green IT, one inescapable truth is that for many organizations the IT department remains the largest consumer of energy.

Green IT therefore requires a step change in current practices: reducing unnecessary IT use whilst optimizing technology’s ability to offset emissions from other parts of the business.

Standards are constantly evolving in the area (often in response to external drivers such as the WEEE Directive) and embrace a wide range of disciplines, including those that address the information security challenges presented by cloud computing and increased mobile working.

Of specific interest are data centres, which lay at the heart of the new digital economy. Growing reliance on these comes at a time when the availability of energy is falling and its cost is rising accordingly Current standards relate to specific aspects of data centre operation (cabling) but there is a proposed European standard on data centre design that addresses their energy-efficiency.

Other work includes the EU Code of Conduct on Data Centres which, whilst not a formal standard, is the most advanced good practice to date.

Sustainability for and by Information Communications Technology (ICT) White paper

This white paper describes the problem of energy growth and considers the carbon-reducing solutions that some ICT applications make possible. It raises the question of the future traffic of the internet and possible regulation, access, pricing, taxation or even bandwidth limitation. We hope that it stimulates debate surrounding the value of the digital services that the internet provides.

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Green IT British standards

Standards Development

As BSI looks to the future of standards in IT, this is an ideal opportunity for you to have your say on the future of Green IT standards and help shape a more sustainable future for the industry.

Drafts for Public Comment (DPC) are available to view on BSI’s Drafts website.

View current Draft documents
http://drafts.bsigroup.com/

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Find ICT training courses

Sustainability

Smarter working in your IT department can save energy and money. Enhance the performance and operation of your IT department and have a positive impact on the environment.

ICT is traditionally regarded as the largest consumer of energy in an organization; however, as companies are pressured into reducing their overall energy usage, a step change is needed.

Energy management systems
BS EN ISO 50001:2011
Energy management systems. Requirements with guidance for use

Environmentally conscious design of ICT equipment
BS EN 62075:2012
Audio/video, information and communication technology equipment. Environmentally conscious design

Assessing your carbon footprint

PAS 2060

Specification for the demonstration of carbon neutrality

Guide to PAS 2050. How to assess the carbon footprint of goods and services

Managing sustainable development
BS 8900:2006 Guidance for managing sustainable development

A Handbook for Sustainable Development. A companion to BS 8900 'Guidance for managing sustainable development'

Download a free copy
PAS 2050
Assessing the life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of goods and services

Reporting greenhouse gas emissions
BS EN ISO 14064-1:2012 Greenhouse gases. Specification with guidance at the organization level for quantification and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions and removals