CABINET OFFICE News
Release (CAB 082-08) issued by The Government News Network on 17
July 2008
The British
Government today became the first in the world to announce plans
to slash the carbon footprint of its computer systems.
Information and communication technology (ICT) is responsible for
up to 20 per cent of carbon emissions generated by Government
offices - around 460,000 tonnes a year. Under the plan announced
today by Cabinet Office Minister Tom Watson the Government aims to
make energy consumption of ICT carbon neutral within four years.
Departments will be asked to take 18 key steps. They include:
Automatically switching off desktop computers outside working
hours. Turning off every desktop PC in central Government for the
16 hours that fall outside the standard working day could save up
to 117,500 tonnes of CO2 per year - equivalent to taking 40,000
cars off the road.
Reusing as much computer equipment as possible. Most of the
energy used in the lifetime of a PC is consumed during
manufacture. Extending its use or re-using it elsewhere will save
both energy and money.
Auditing our data centres and server use to make sure they are
running at maximum efficiency. A server that is switched on but
idle still uses up to 70 per cent of the power it consumers when
fully operational.
Cabinet Office Minister Tom Watson said:
"Worldwide, computers are responsible for the same quantity
of carbon emissions as the airline industry. It is a serious
problem that requires a serious solution.
"That's why I'm so proud that we are the first
Government anywhere in the world to formally set out exactly what
we're going to do to make our ICT systems carbon neutral
within four years. We won't achieve this just by offsetting
but by making serious changes to the way we do business.
"But it's not just about the Government. I hope that
the steps we're announcing today - including simple ideas
such as making sure everything is turned off when not in use,
defaulting to double-sided printing and reusing old equipment for
as long as possible - will also be picked up by private companies
and individuals. Lots of small actions make a big impact. Between
us we can make a real difference in the fight against climate
change."
Andrew Lee, Chief Executive of the Sustainable Development
Commission (SDC), said:
"This is a welcome move and a radical target. As the SDC
reported earlier this year, government departments have a long way
to go on reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions, and
tackling IT will be crucial to this effort. We look forward to
seeing departments build on these first steps with sustained and
decisive action.
"The Cabinet Office has already demonstrated how simple
changes can deliver huge carbon savings, and we hope this
initiative will go much further, taking a fundamental look at how
IT is designed and configured for the future."
John Higgins, Director General of computer industry trade body
Intellect, said:
"I welcome today's announcement of the
Government's green IT guidelines. The hi-tech sector around
the world has demonstrated that it can make its own products more
energy-efficient and use technology to generate wider carbon savings.
"Intellect's Public Sector Council agreed yesterday to
form a dedicated task group to focus on the issue and help make
today's ambitions for greening government IT a reality."
Notes to editors
1) The target set today applies to Central Government departments
and will see energy consumption of ICT carbon neutral by 2012.
Energy consumption will be reduced as much as possible and what is
left will be offset. By 2020 Central Government ICT will be carbon
neutral throughout its entire lifetime, including manufacture and
disposal.
2) The guidelines in the strategy will be adopted by the Cabinet
Office immediately; other departments will be asked to base their
environmental action plans around these rules and will be expected
to report on their implementation in their submissions to the
Transformational Government Annual Report.
3) The strategy will be unveiled at the Science of Survival
climate change exhibition at London's Science Museum. Doors
open at 8.30am, with the event starting at 9am. If you want to
attend please contact Alex Marklew on 020 7276 0436.
4) Copies of the full strategy and Tom Watson's speech will
be available for download from http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk
by midday on Thursday 17 July.
For further details contact:
Cabinet Office Press Office 22
Whitehall LONDON SW1A 2WH
http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk
