Green IT in Germany
Here in Germany green IT is definitely an important issue, with something new every week.
After the CeBit exhibition 2009, which was the second one with a focus on green IT, we can say that green IT for the manufacturers is an important trend.
The green party recently coordinated a workshop on “Green IT – fair and sustainable?” This workshop focused on three areas: energy saving, resource saving and avoiding of waste and finally, social responsibility, which is also a part of sustainability. The participants agreed that a serious effort in green IT involves a number of activities in several fields. It is much more than energy saving. All the market forces need to bring in their ideas to make IT products greener:
The users need to ask for green products, the manufacturers need to concentrate on green products, that need less energy, don´t waste good resources and that are produced in healthy workplaces. Scientists need to think about using material better, while public administrations must set in place the political framework that supports the greening of IT products. And we – organizations that work with all those partners – have to offer good certification models that are easy to understand and to be trusted. Usability is also an important issue, which is sometimes underestimated.
The German government´s council for sustainability takes this aspect into account. Only three weeks after the green workshop, this council invited all the labeling organizations in Germany to a discussion about – again – three aspects: The first is to discuss how labeling organizations see their own roll on the market. Secondly, if a cooperation is helpful for the impact on the market and thirdly, whether the activities of labeling are really helpful to consumers.
So this will be an interesting event, and I am looking forward to it. It is vital to lead these discussions together and I am glad that green IT is growing as an issue!