Perceived cost
There is a perception that energy-efficient IT equipment is more expensive than 'ordinary' systems, which can impact the procurement decision. This is a short-term view. The total-cost-of-ownership (TCO) is an important factor when purchasing energy-efficient IT hardware. While there is currently a small price premium to pay on such equipment (estimated at around $30 for a typical desktop PC, but increasingly shrinking), the cost savings in terms of reduced energy consumption that they provide is often recouped in the first year. Over a three- or four year lifecycle, any initial price premium is easily recouped by energy cost savings.
In addition, energy-efficient PCs are usually quieter in operation, thus potentially improving the working environment and therefore productivity, and produce less heat which means less energy is required for cooling the office and hence offer further energy savings.
Such equipment reduces CO2 emissions, and is likely to be easier to recycle or dispose of, thus provides an indication of an organization’s sustainable credentials and CSR intentions.
Lack of education / apathy
For many organizations, ethical and environmental considerations do not yet figure in the procurement decision.The focus in recent years, on both the desktop and in the data center, has been on low-cost and high-capacity considerations. It is unlikely that such freedom from environmental concern will be afforded for much longer, as governments, lobby groups, stakeholders and consumers quire more from businesses, and as energy demand continues to grow.
Significant cost savings are available to those organizations that adopt an energy-efficient, or Sustainable IT, approach to running their business. If environmental concern, social pressure, government legislation or industry regulation are not drivers enough, then bottom line cost savings should be.
Lack of knowledge / energy auditing
According to a recent survey of 200 IT managers in the UK, performed by processor manufacturer Intel, energy consumption is now a board-level discussion at 66% of organizations, and decreasing energy consumption is viewed as a business priority going forward at 69% of businesses. However, the research also showed that 80% of businesses have never conducted an energy audit, and only 29% are currently investing in energy-efficient PCs despite the fact that 94% of respondents said that they were aware that energy consumption from IT is a major contributor to global warming.
Without setting benchmarks there is no way for organizations to assess how much energy they are wasting, where the problems lie and what improvements have been made. Rising energy costs are a growing challenge, and so it is vital that organizations of all sizes get a handle on their IT power consumption through an audit, in order to begin energy effficiency.
