10 Tips to Make Your Business Greener

Tags: Green IT, Business, Managed Services, Server Virtualization, Desktop Virtualization

3581167217_b0fa577e59 Cutting costs, saving energy and conserving non-renewable resources are all key benefits of developing a Green IT strategy for your business. Here are 10 tips your company can adopt today to begin thinking Green, wasting less, and developing a Green IT strategy:

Power down all electronics-computers, printers, monitors, etc…at the end of the day. This includes unplugging power strips that consume energy even when the equipment is off.
Get a free energy audit. Most utility companies offer a free energy audit. They can tell you how to cut energy consumption. In many cities, water companies will also do a usage audit.
Develop a comprehensive green business plan for your business that includes energy and water usage, waste reduction, transportation conservation, and equipment efficiency. You will surprised at the results when you carry out your plan. Many businesses have found an energy savings of anywhere from 30% to 70% when developing a Green IT plan and sticking to it.
Lighting can often account for almost half of energy costs for many businesses. Installing motion-sensor or automatic dimmers helps to make sure that lights get shut down efficiently when there is nobody around to use them.
Don’t travel to business meetings. Utilize teleconferencing technologies to hold virtual meetings from your computer, saving transportation costs, and carbon emissions at the same time.
Purchase office supplies and furniture made from recycled materials when possible.
If you’re still using faxes to communicate, switch to using an e-fax program. This eliminates separate paper, toner, power and maintenance costs.
Consider using laptops instead of desktop computers. Laptops consume up to 80 percent less energy than equivalent desktops. In addition, Inkjet printers use about 75 percent less energy than laser printers.
Consider using “Software as a Service” or SAAS, web-based software solutions. By having software hosted somewhere else, you cut your own energy consumption from unneeded hardware.
Utilize non-toxic, organic cleaning products when having your office cleaned. These products are better for the environment and better for the health of you and your employees.

There are hundreds of ways your business can embrace the new green technology movement. These are just a few simple ones you can start today. In addition, many of your hardware and software resources can be virtualized, from servers, to applications, to computers. Contact a reputable managed services provider in your local area for information on virtualization.

Jason Dick,

Northwest Computer Support

Posted By: jason on 2/9/2010
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