Ofcom to set example with green IT project

Ofcom, the communications and media regulator has announced plans to reduce its carbon footprint.

Following a ‘carbon audit’, the regulator set about plans to reduce its environmental impact, with a particular focus on IT.

The audit, carried out by ecological researcher Best Foot Forward, said the watchdog needed to target carbon emissions reduction through IT, which created nine per cent of its CO2 emissions during 2006 to 2007 and includes computers, servers, printers and mobile phone equipment. This was equivalent to 377 tonnes of CO2, it said.

Offsite servers contributed a further 16 per cent of Ofcom’s annual emissions, while the audit also found 48 tonnes of CO2 were produced by its PCs and 323 tonnes came from printing and copying.

Ofcom is focusing on IT in its ‘Project Footprint’ initiative to reduce emissions, which will take on the audit’s main recommendation to collect better data on its IT energy consumption to improve its procurement of more energy efficient equipment.

The project aims to halve Ofcom’s total CO2 emissions by 2020, reducing them by 25 per cent in the next four years alone.

The audit recommended Ofcom optimise its offsite servers by 60 per cent and said this could reduce the amount of carbon the watchdog produces by 407 tonnes. It also advised it to look for renewable sources of data centre energy.

And other, more straightforward steps, like refilling its printer ink cartridges, introducing more efficient printing policies and using recycled paper, could contribute a substantial reduction in its footprints, as well as set a good industry example, according to the audit.

“Greater use of the internet and internal non-paper-based information systems could have a positive impact in reducing Ofcom's footprint,” it added.

Project Footprint will also look at increased flexible working practices and teleconferencing to reduce the environmental impact of business travel and more recycling to reduce the volume of waste sent to landfill.

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