Sustainability in IT: An Urgency in the Time of Climate Change

Sustainability in IT: An Urgency in the Time of Climate Change

1. The Path to Sustainability in IT

2. Sustainability in IT: How to Implement It in the IT Industry?
2.1. Use of Renewable Energy
2.2. Sustainable IT through Promotion of Green Infrastructure
2.3. Promotion of Telecommuting and Virtual Meetings
3. Conclusion: IT and Sustainability - A Rewarding Path!  

1. The Path to Sustainability in IT

Droughts and extreme weather events are topics that accompany us in the news daily. There is no doubt that the current climate crisis presents enormous challenges. This has led to an increasing number of companies adopting renewable energy with the aim of curbing climate change and creating a sustainable future. 

What about sustainability in the IT industry? 

IT giants like Google, Microsoft, and Intel set a good example by sourcing their energy consumption from renewable sources or investing in renewable energy. 

You may not be among the IT giants, but if you want to embark on the path of sustainability in IT, you are not alone. At prando cloud solutions, we are such a company, and like you, we aim to integrate sustainability into our entrepreneurial daily life. 

In this article, we would like to share some tips that have helped us, and we hope they can be useful for small and medium-sized IT companies.

It is no secret that the IT industry requires a considerable amount of energy. Operating computers, servers, data centers, and technologies consumes electricity. Using renewable energy as a power source can be the first step towards sustainable IT. 

But what is renewable energy in simple words? Renewable energies are energy forms that do not require permanent depletion of resources but simply utilize naturally replenishing and practically inexhaustible sources. These include, for example, solar energy (photovoltaic, solar thermal), hydroelectric power, and wind power. 

Entering into a partnership with renewable energy providers to switch your energy supply to renewable sources can be a step towards sustainability. By engaging in long-term contracts for renewable energy, you can support the development and expansion of renewable energy projects.

2.2. Sustainable IT through Promotion of Green Infrastructure

Traditional IT infrastructures require a lot of energy for operation, as each server needs to be powered, cooled, and maintained. In contrast, cloud-based services are inherently more energy-efficient in terms of energy consumption. Investing in the establishment and promotion of cloud infrastructures can be another significant step in implementing sustainability in IT industry. 

To do this, it is advisable to choose a hosting provider that invests in sustainability. Hetzner Online GmbH is an excellent example in this regard. Hetzner is a leading company in web hosting and data center services. It has implemented various sustainability initiatives to reduce its carbon footprint, such as using renewable energy in its data centers, optimizing energy efficiency, and proper disposal of electronic waste.

Having the right partners by your side offers another opportunity to act more sustainably. For example, selecting the right server provider. At prando cloud solutions, we have chosen to work with SUSE Linux Enterprise Servers (SLES) in this regard. One of its unique features is its energy efficiency. In addition to its energy-efficient design, SLES also offers a range of features that can help businesses become more sustainable. For example, SLES supports virtualization, enabling companies to run multiple virtual servers on a single physical server. This reduces the need for hardware, which in turn reduces energy consumption and the company's carbon footprint.

For prando cloud solutions, partnering with Hetzner Online GmbH and SUSE has been the right choice. We can benefit from their initiatives and offer more environmentally friendly cloud services with a lower carbon footprint. 

Thanks to Hetzner and SUSE, we can strengthen our commitment to sustainability and provide efficient and environmentally friendly cloud solutions for our customers.

https://www.suse.com/esg/environmental-matters/

Virtual meetings and telecommuting have a significant impact on traffic and related emissions. Commuting can be greatly reduced when these aspects are promoted within a company. Many companies have had positive experiences with this approach. Not only were they able to reduce their energy consumption, but they also increased efficiency and productivity. 

In times of such strong climate change, it is of great importance to implement sustainability in our entrepreneurial daily life. Small and medium-sized IT companies have a unique opportunity to act as pioneers and role models in the transition. We have seen that sustainability in IT can be achieved through the use of renewable energy, promoting cloud infrastructures through partners committed to sustainability, and implementing telecommuting. 

We hope that these tips can help you, too, to make your IT company greener and more sustainable.