Environmental analysis news: Organisations 'struggle' to measure IT usage

Companies have extreme difficulties when it comes to measuring - and consequently managing - their IT usage and its resultant energy use, an industry expert has claimed.

Speaking at the Green IT Expo 2009, Brian Charlton from Siemens explained that due to IT's complex and variable nature, many businesses do not know how much energy it uses.

The manager for IT sustainability at the company added that many companies do not know where to start when it comes to measuring their IT usage, however he stressed that it was critical that a system was developed to allow them to do this.

Mr Charlton said: "We need to measure it because until we measure it, we can't manage it."

As firms come under greater pressure to reduce their carbon emissions, it is vital that they are able to control their IT use in this respect, he added.

Mr Charlton continued that the industry needs to "get a grasp" on this area and establish a baseline as a starting point to then work on improvements and targets.

The Green IT Expo 2009 event was held in order to offer guidance to senior IT and business decision makers on the implementation of environmentally-friendly technology and innovations, in addition to stressing the value of using environmentally-responsible suppliers.

Posted by Claire Manning