Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
environmental issues are complex and difficult
to manage, since they are components of social
and natural systems (Roome, 1992). Therefore,
because IT performs an integral function in almost
all aspects of business, and because each stage of
the IT lifecycle from manufacturing to usage and
disposal can pose environmental damages (Elliot
and Binney, 2008), it is necessary to include IT
as one of the aspects of “environmental sustain-
ability” (Molla et al. , 2009).
To represent technology within an environ-
mental context, some researchers have coined
terms such as “environmental technology” or
“sustainability technology”, whereas others ref-
erence concepts such as “green technology (IT)”
or “green computing”. The definitions also vary
considerably. Hedwig et al. (2009) defined Green
IT as all activities and efforts that incorporate
ecologically friendly technologies and processes
into the entire lifecycle of information and com-
munication technology, where the sustainable
operation of a data center performs a central
role in this domain, focusing on the reduction
of energy consumption during the operation of
the data center. Shrivastava (1995) previously
defined “environmental technologies” as “produc-
tion equipment, method and procedures, product
designs, and product delivery mechanisms that
conserve energy and natural resources, minimize
the environmental load of human activities, and
protect the natural environment.” They include
both hardware (pollution control equipment,
cleaner production technologies, etc.) and oper-
ating method (e.g. waste management practices,
conservation oriented work environment). From
the practitioner's perspective, Green IT has been
associated principally with technologies and initia-
tives designed to reduce the power, cooling, and
real estate expenses associated with ICT operations
(Molla 2009). Molla (2009) conceptualized Green
IT theory from these various definitions, and de-
fined Green IT as “as an organization's ability to
systematically apply environmental sustainability
stewardship, use of clean technologies) to the
design, production, sourcing, use, and disposal of
the IT technical infrastructure as well as within
the human and managerial components of the IT
infrastructure”.
Green IT issues include climate change, green-
house gases and CO2 emission, energy usage,
material usage, and electronic wastes. The Green
IT offering addresses the information technology
function/industry, which plays a role in reducing
the environmental burdens incurred by IT and also
in providing advanced technology and solutions
to environmental problems (Lash and Wellington,
2007). It also affects the environment during the
entirety of its life-cycle, from its production,
throughout its use, to its ultimate disposal (Muru-
gesan, 2008). As the ultimate objective of this
technology is to provide a win-win solution for
both the company and the environment, we defined
Green IT as relating to any computer-based tools
(hardware, software, equipments), mechanisms,
structures, guidelines, and methodologies as the
results of environmental breakthrough at each
stage of the technology's life-cycle, including use,
design, manufacture, and reuse, refurbish, and
disposal of technology in environmentally sound
manners (to deliver sustainable values for busi-
ness, environment, and society, and at the same
time, improve the quality of life). We identified
this environmental aspect of technology as one
of the basic pillars of our Green IT BSC, as this
factor helps to enhance companies' performance
in some regards.
2. Green IT and Competitive
Advantage
Currently, organizations are attempting to trans-
form themselves for future competition based on
information and intangible assets, which have
become increasingly important in the global
economy (Herath et al. 2010). The previous litera-
ture has highlighted several benefits arising from
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