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GreenIT flash

Sustainable buildings reduce e-waste with less cabling

Modern commercial buildings contain large amounts of cable and wiring used for electrical power distribution, building control, and IT systems. The amount of IT cabling in U.S. buildings has increased exponentially since the advent of the networked PC. In 1991 there were about 5 billion feet of plenum cable in place. This grew to 30 billion feet by 1997 and 45 billion feet by 2000 - approximately 1,323 feet of cable per office worker.

Most voice/data cables are jacketed in PVC plastics that contain 2-8% lead by weight as a stabilizer. Besides the environmental impact of mining copper and lead, the incineration or disposal of wire coatings in landfills and oceans is a serious source of contamination.

 

The Green Data Center that is not all Hot Air

At 365 Main's new 136,000-square-foot data center being built in Newark, the facility will feature "intelligent" computer room air handlers, or CRAHs, that consumer 30% less energy than conventional air-conditioning; there is additional energy savings from the use of energy-efficient lighting and the use of make-up air handler units that can use outside air on days when temperatures are cool enough.

Sustainable IT Services

Services for every point in the Sustainable IT
Maturity Curve

Whether your organization is just beginning to formulate Sustainability goals or is well along the path to achieving its sustainability objectives, GreenIT has a service offering to complement your native expertise. We provide design and consulting services and customized education to a wide range of commercial, government, non-profit and educational enterprises.

Services Triangle

GreenIT™ and its affiliates provide clients with consulting assistance for a broad range of activities in Design, Management, and Education.

Services Triangle

Design

The greatest financial and environmental returns are gained by re-thinking and re-designing existing paradigms and processes.  Which organizations will thrive in the fast-changing and environmentally-conscious 21st Century? Achieving the financial and sustainability goals of organizations requires new ideas and bold agendas, not marginal improvement.

Management

The key to success in IT Eco-Efficiency and IT Eco-Innovation is people. New technologies and technical solutions are being delivered faster than most organizations can adapt. Reducing the eco-footprint of IT and harnessing the power of IT to drive sustainability initiatives requires the development of new management and business processes.

Education

Achieving goals for sustainability and financial performance require that everyone involved in an enterprise - Leaders, Employees, Customers, and Suppliers - understand the environmental effects of what they do and how their organization has committed to change. Until recently, little attention has been given to sustainability for IT.  As awareness grows and real changes are required, education becomes critical for success.

Core Services

IT System Design

IT System DesignGreenIT provides IT system design solutions that minimize materials used, reduce waste, and improve energy efficiency while reducing TCO and improving performance.  Simplification through elimination of unnecessary or overbuilt design elements allows for lower TCO and simplified operations as well as a reduced eco-footprint.

IT Infrastructure System Design

IT Infrastructure System DesignNetwork cabling systems are the no-man’s land of IT system development --- sometimes the responsibility of IT, sometimes Facilities or Electrical Engineers, and sometimes nobody - until late in the design process.  New technologies allow for significant reductions in build costs, operations costs and non-renewable resources used for cable infrastructure; results that can only be achieved through early engagement and collaborative design processes.

Integrated Facilities Design

Integrated Facilities DesignTypically, IT system designers are brought into the process for creating a new workplace just before occupancy – if at all.  Integrating IT into the design process from the earliest conceptual stages can produce dramatic benefits for space utilization, facility operating costs, and environmental sustainability. GreenIT projects have demonstrated that office electrical load and IT infrastructure materials can be reduced by 50% or more.  When IT systems are properly designed to support alternative workstyle programs, space can be far more adaptable to changing demands over time.

Business Process and System Design

The greatest financial and environmental returns are gained by re-thinking existing paradigms and processes.  Which organizations will thrive in the fast-changing and environmentally-conscious 21st Century? Achieving the financial and sustainability goals of organizations requires new ideas and bold agendas, not marginal improvement.

Eco-Footprint Assessment

The first step to beginning a sustainable IT program is to determine your current footprint. Only by understanding your present patterns of energy usage and waste creation can you set meaningful goals for improvement. Often, organizational structures and legacy systems make it hard to get an accurate picture of where you are. Using our partner BDNA’s GreenScan and our industry history and knowledge, GreenIT Assessment services help you measure and evaluate your business processes, systems and equipment.

Eco-Innovation Planning & Project Management

The key to success in IT Eco-Efficiency and IT Eco-Innovation is people. New technical solutions are being delivered faster than most organizations can adapt. Reducing the eco-footprint of IT and harnessing the power of IT to drive sustainability initiatives requires the development of new business processes.

Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP) for IT Systems

California Department of General ServicesEPP requirements for IT products are being incorporated into major purchasing programs in both the public and private sectors. The EPEAT and Energy Star standards have been widely adopted for government purchases at the Federal, State, and Local government levels. Additional requirements around packaging waste, end-of-life management, Design for Environment and other environmental attributes are appearing as well. GreenIT offers guidance for both the development of RFP requirements and to companies responding to new requirements.

Sustainable IT Educational Programs

Green California Summit and ExpositionIT product manufacturers are providing educational resources around the environmental benefits of their products, much of it focused on data centers and personal computers. Governments have established environmental requirements and standards for IT. Not-for-profit organizations have developed education campaigns on IT environmental issues. GreenIT offers a broad-based, integrated approach to using those resources and the growing body of scientific research for employee-education programs, workshops, and conferences.