Green IT: sustainability by aligning business requirements with IT resource utilisation

Abstract

The term 'green IT' is defined as Optimal use of Information and Communication Technology ICT for managing the environment sustainability of enterprise operations throughout their life cycles'. Its objective is to create a positive impact on environment through net lowered emissions. The heart of green information technology IT is the concept of 'Environmental Sustainability', its initiatives are multifaceted to support enterprises 'business as usual model', in low-carbon economy. Many green IT initiatives have provided short-term financial benefits, based on which organisations are now focusing on increased energy efficiency. Since many of these approaches provide less financials benefits' which are harder to implement but provides improved environmental performance. So, the financial benefits and environmental performance should be the multiple objectives in the green IT study. In many geographic locations organisations need to pay for some carbon emissions. The soaring energy cost forces organisations to see energy as a costly resource. Data centres as IT resources are allocated to satisfy business needs. This research aims to align the business requirements with IT resource utilisation which can influence the resource efficiency of IT and reduces its environmental impact.