Issues regarding environmental problems, depletion of nonrenewable natural resources and economic growth disconnected to sustainable development have become a major global concern in recent years, leading governors, civil societies and organizations to propose different attitudes for preserving the planet and, consequently, the survival of future generations. Although IT has contributed a lot to build this scenario, more and more directors and managers have expressed concerns about the environmental impact provided by IT. This situation has driven organizations to adopt different practices to reduce waste and increase the efficiency of processes and phenomena related to computer operations - which have been commonly reported by practitioners as Green IT initiatives. We aim to identify and analyze the main Green IT benefits and practices adopted by organizations. The research is characterized as a descriptive-exploratory study; data were obtained and analyzed from 202 different electronic announcements published in articles, case studies, interviews, news and institutional sites from 2006-2011. The analysis allowed us to categorize the main practices and their benefits. We found that the major gains are associated with cost reduction, reduction of inputs, lower energy consumption, better corporate image and reduction of greenhouse gas. The main practices include server and desktop consolidation, more efficient equipment use, recycling of components and awareness campaigns. We hope the results of this research can stimulate both academics and practitioners in the study and implementation of different Green IT initiatives which will not only make organizations more efficient and effective but also more committed to preserving the planet.
Green IT; Sustainability; Information Technology; Green Practices
