Energy Efficiency Efforts?

Is IT Ready to Spearhead “Green” Energy Efficiency Efforts?
By Steve Lee and Lane F. Cooper
BizTechReports.Com

Gartner researchers report that most IT shops are not yet optimally prepared to support the energy efficiency agenda for their organizations. With energy costs now consuming up to 71 cents for every dollar that is spent on enterprise IT, achieving improvement in energy efficiency will require IT managers to move beyond their traditional role as technology providers.

The first step IT managers can take to managing the energy impact of their enterprise IT infrastructures is to develop a comprehensive understanding of actual energy consumption. “In many enterprises, energy and infrastructure costs fall into the facilities management portfolio—and are likely to be separated from the IT department’s responsibilities,” says IBM’s Chris Spaight, Program Manager, Energy Efficient Technology & Services. “Therefore, IT managers should be prepared to work closely with other service provider components within their enterprises to reach a comprehensive understanding of IT energy consumption and costs.”

No other organization has as constant and comprehensive a perspective on enterprise operations as the IT department. The key question is: Are IT managers ready