Green IT alone is missing the point, says Ovum analyst

In a forthcoming special edition of Ovum's Straight Talk monthly newsletter, Ovum senior analyst Warren Wilson says: "The role most often discussed is how to make computing and networking more energy-efficient. But to focus only on this … is to ignore larger opportunities elsewhere." . ICT's second important role, he says, lies in substituting low-carbon technologies for traditional, high-carbon functions – such as virtual meetings instead of corporate air travel. "This is also a significant opportunity, and one that involves a broader set of ICT vendors and solution providers than the first," suggests Wilson. However, his view is that the most critical role for ICT in combating climate change – and the greatest untapped business opportunity – is the least understood. And what is that? "Using ICT to monitor, measure, analyse and minimise the impact of manufacturing, buildings, vehicle fleets and other operations that account for the vast majority of energy consumption and carbon emissions," he says. "It's important to take a broad view of both the problem and the potential solutions," says Wilson. "Technologies developed to improve business operations or even software development can pay dividends in carbon reduction, and these gains are no less real than if motivated solely by environmental concerns."