As an IT professional, you work hard to make sure your tech department is running optimally—often while unknowingly leaving a larger-than-desired carbon footprint behind. With growing emphasis on creating a more sustainable world, professionals who don’t keep up with the green trend can quickly fall behind more environmentally-responsible companies.
You may have found yourself wondering how you can (and why you should) get on board with being eco-friendly while still staying ahead of the curve. Today, with clean tech, even the most tech-heavy IT departments can start to go in a greener direction.
What’s the buzz about clean tech?
Clean tech skills are in growing demand, and knowing how to clean up your IT department and save energy and vital resources can boost your chances of success in the growing green economy.
Green power generates energy and fuel from the sun, wind, water, and other renewable sources, and enable companies to minimize their carbon footprint—a fact that makes the growing eco-conscious employer and client very happy.
A growing number of companies like IBM and Microsoft have jumped on the green train. By creating strategies for cutting power consumption and creating products and services that echo their emphasis on green, such forward-thinking companies all over the nation are joining the environmental revolution.
Sustainability and technology don’t have to be polar opposites, and tech professionals can be environmentally friendly, keep their company ahead of the curve and become more hirable too.
If you’re ready to boost your green skills to become more competitive in today’s green-focused market, check out our quick list of ways to improve your green IQ and your own future too.
1. Recycle your e-waste
As we turn to electronics more than ever before, handling e-waste is becoming a growing challenge. Only about
12.5% of the 9.4 million tons of e-waste produced in the US gets recycled, leaving the rest filling landfills.
Check out this list on where and how to recycle your e-waste.
2. Go solar
With growing emphasis on going green, solar is becoming more than a fad. The
sun as a renewable energy source can power your success by not only reducing energy costs, but saving the earths vital resources and minimizing pollutants—and in turn creating a cleaner, healthier world.
3. Upgrade old devices
Old devices are power-hungry energy hogs that will eat you out of business if you aren’t careful. Replace your old computers and devices with
Energy Star rated products that work a lot faster in an energy-efficient way.
4. Meet virtually
Virtual meetings cut down on driving and flying, and improve business overhead costs too.
Apps and programs like Skype and Gotomeeting are popular options for as near to face-to-face as you can get in an eco-friendly environment.
5. Go to the cloud
Software-as-a-service and cloud-based computing cut down on in-house devices that consume high amounts of energy—and that will eventually end up in a landfill if not recycled properly. Bonus: storing your desktop and data remotely means you’ll have a team of IT specialists keeping an eye on your most vital business information, enabling you to focus on driving actual innovation for your company.
6. Learn how to procure green energy
To
tap into the power of green energy you’ve got to know the process. From knowing who to talk to and gathering the right energy data to buying green power (and everything in between), knowing the process and channels is vital to a successful transition.
As you begin to arm yourself with green and clean tech knowledge and implement it into your own workplace (or interviews), you’ll become a valuable resource to employers, and to the future.
