Go Green at Work

The list of things you can do is almost limitless – there is a green version of literally everything – but here are a few suggestions for your companies computer policies that could spark some green change in your workplace.

Computers and related technologies account for 3-4% of the world’s carbon emissions, according to a recent report by. Changing the type of computers your company uses can make a difference. If your company is in the market for new machines, make sure you check out the ethical and environmental records of the various manufacturers on the Gooshing UK website.  Gooshing is a programme run by the Ethical Company Organisation.

Also, choose hardware that uses less toxic chemicals in the manufacturing process. Greenpeace has published a guide of the companies with the worst records.

If you work for a large company, the main environmental culprit is likely to be your data centre.  This is the place where most large companies keep their most powerful servers. According to a report by analyst firm BroadGroup, the average British data centre consumes more energy in a year than the entire resident population of the city of Leicester.

Find out whether the data centre your company uses utilises the most energy efficient hardware or has an eco cooling system of some sort. And if it doesn’t, suggest that the company make some changes.

www.greenpeace.org.uk