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1. “One of the easiest ways to be greener is simply to use less IT equipment in the first place”, says Cefyn. “Sharing equipment, such as printers and photocopiers, and hot-desking where possible are two simple and effective ways of doing this.”

2. Cefyn recommends purchasing from responsible manufacturers, suppliers and distributors to ensure your IT equipment isn’t already causing unnecessary damage to the environment. “Many manufacturers use lead-free solders, for example, and do not treat their plastics with harmful chemicals. It’s also important to bear in mind where products are made as inefficient logistics will add to your carbon footprint.”

3. “Future-proof your IT equipment by buying wisely and considering likely technical developments in your industry.” Bear in mind the efficiency of newer IT equipment, too – flat screen monitors, for example, consume less energy than older CRT monitors.

4. “Ensure that PCs are not left on overnight by setting up automatic shut-down, and implement the stand-by facility so that computers that are left on while the user is away from his or her desk power down after a few minutes. Add password-protection and you also have a great security measure to stop anyone using your computer while you go for lunch or a quick meeting.”

5. Maximise the usable life of your computing equipment: “If you maintain your equipment to a good standard, when it’s time for an upgrade, it can be redeployed to other parts of your business that may not have such high-spec requirements. Remember to ensure that all sensitive data is removed beforehand and equipment is suitably prepared.” E-cycle’s research suggests that refreshing computers every three years, and redeploying or selling on older equipment, is highly cost-effective. Many companies choose to donate older equipment to charities or organisations such as schools in developing countries.

6. “Once computer equipment has reached its end of life, ensure it is recycled via a reputable service,” advises Cefyn. “Despite legislation, thousands of computers from businesses in the UK and Europe are still finding their way to landfill, are incinerated or are simply dumped outside the EU in places likeWest Africa. Not only is this dangerous, it’s also illegal.” If it is not viable to refurbish computer equipment for redeployment or sale, Remploy e-cycle will recycle every single component.

7. “Finally, use IT-related services and partners that are themselves ethically and environmentally-minded. A good place to start is with companies registered with the Environment Agency - such as e-cycle, which processes all equipment in line with the environmental standard ISO 14001. As part of Remploy, the UK’s largest employer of disabled people, e-cycle also provides employment for those who face barriers to work, which can help to fulfil clients’ corporate and social responsibility.”

www.remployecycle.co.uk

08 sustainabletimes 0870 903 9500

• Less than 5% of the annual worldwide volume of mobile phone handsets shipped come back through recycling or ethical disposal programs (source: Mobile Handset Green Initiatives, ABI Research www.abiresearch.com)

• 60% of office chairs end up in landfill at end of life (source: Orangebox)

• It takes 97% less energy to make aluminium from recovered material than it does to make it from bauxite, aluminium’s source material. Making steel from recovered material requires 75% less energy than making it from iron and ore (source: Okamura)

• Recycling one tonne of steel cans saves 1.5 tonnes of iron ore, 0.5 tonnes of coal and 40% water usage. Recycling just seven steel cans saves enough energy to power a 60-watt light bulb for 26 hours

(source: SCRIB, the Steel Can Recycling Information Bureau)

• Lighting is responsible for 19% of all electricity used. Street lighting and buildings account for 75% of lighting-related electricity consumption. Up to 80% of lighting systems in buildings are based on outdated technology

(source: Philips)

• If all the lighting in the world was switched to energy efficient solutions, we would save € 120 billion worth of electricity and 630 million tonnes of CO 2 . That is equivalent to the output of 500 power plants or 1,800 million barrels of oil each year (source: Philips)

• Almost half of UK households (47%) still leave the TV on standby when they go to bed, wasting more than £80,000 a year in electricity

(source: Energy Saving Trust)

• A third of Britons (35 per cent) would share a bath or shower to save money on their electricity or gas bill compared to just eight per cent of Swedes (source: Energy Saving Trust)

greenAgenda

Top Tips for Green IT

Remploy e-cycle can refurbish computer equipment for redeployment or sale

To help businesses successfully implement Green IT policies, Cefyn Grafton from Remploy e-cycle has compiled the following top tips.