I remember my initiation into the idea of green living
through, ironically, cars—one of those inventions that contribute significantly
to pollution (though I must admit I drive one to work everyday like hundreds of
millions).
The cars I'm talking about, however, didn't look like your
regular street machines but something straight off the pages of a sci-fi
thriller. These “concept cars” invariably looked very curvy, used lots of sheet
glass and were often accompanied by smiling beauties (not sure if the girls
were there to turn your attention away from the fact that such solar or
non-fossil fuel powered cars were not going to be a reality for the next 10-20
years).
After more than two decades since those memories, it's
heartening that electric and hybrid cars are gradually being introduced in the
market.
The click-click world of computing is in a similar situation
right now, though things here seem to have moved relatively faster than for
automobiles.
Most of those in IT would identify the green-colored “Energy
Star” logo that appeared while the computer booted up. It is believed that the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency was one of the first to launch efforts to
recognize energy-efficiency in tech equipment when it announced the Star as a voluntary
labeling program in 1992.
Today, there are thousands of such programs and efforts
worldwide to cut down on energy use by ICT equipment—most notably in large data
centers that have become massive guzzlers of electricity.
The rising energy prices, coupled with a growing
environmental consciousness, have resulted in a multi-billion-dollar “green
equipment” market. Even in India, which is always considered price-sensitive
and therefore reluctant to shell out 15-20% more for the green tag, many CIOs and
other decision makers have begun to “talk green,” if not “buy green.”
But they should look beyond the initial cost and think of
RoI from green IT in the longer term. Fortunately, several businesses are in an
expansion or migratory stage and can thus take help from the independent data
centers that have come up recently in India and which tout great green
credentials. Or they can tweak their purchasing processes to include some green elements as well.
I know it's easier said than done. But it has to be
said—and, eventually, it will be done more than we thought possible. Policies
and laws on e-waste and energy use will catch up in India, but there's no
reason why the avant-garde businesses should wait to go green.
The green run, after all, is going to be a marathon.
