Green issues are certainly climbing the IT agenda. We’ve recently witnessed a real call for businesses to overhaul their IT systems radically and install eco-friendly technology, especially as power costs escalate.

Moreover, legislation such as the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive and the RoHS Directive are putting added pressure on organisations to become more green, from both a financial and ethical point of view.

The IT department has a real responsibility towards the environment. According to The Carbon Trust, office equipment now accounts for around 15% of total energy in the UK and this figure is likely to double by 2020. Leaving personal computers, lights, printers and other office equipment switched on wastes an estimated £150 million worth of electricity in English offices every year.

The introduction of green taxes will push IT directors to take steps to minimise the effect on the IT budget, but the IT function can also have a wider perspective and influence on behaviour. IT, for instance, has created the opportunity for flexible working which can significantly reduced the number of people travelling into work each day. IT can provide the vision (and the practicalities) for global businesses to use videoconferencing and file sharing for network meetings, cutting back on international travel.

IT can keep nudging the business to use email and EDI, not printed, posted and delivered paperwork. Some businesses already include the environmental impact and recycling potential of product in their purchasing decisions. IT can take a lead here too, ensuring that the kit they buy will not contribute to a future mountain of electrical waste.

Businesses shouldn’t forget that there is one thing for certain - green IT is no longer an option, it’s a necessity.