Greener computing for charities and community groups

Reducing your computers’ carbon footprint

30th July 2007 - In this article Michael Laffan explores ways in which charities and community groups can use technology in more energy efficient ways. Image by Beth Kanter

greener_computing ICT costs go beyond hardware and software. There are also the energy costs, and beyond that the carbon footprint.

Community organisations are now reliant on their computers for everything from general administration to maintaining a website. But all too often we forget to count the cost to the environment of the activities on our desktop.

Even computer giants IBM are now beginning to realise that we need to look for more sustainable models of computing.

Research estimates that the average office computer produces approximately 1 tonne of carbon in a year. How many computers does your organisation have?

Greener uses of technology

We all have a social responsibility to make the most of our resources, and to improve our environment.

It’s not just about commonsense stuff such as turning off your PC and printing on both sides of the paper. There’s so much more voluntary and community groups can do when it comes to making information and communications technology a bit greener.

Remote working using technology

ICT Hub partner AbilityNet has experimented with a range of methods to reduce their carbon footprint.

They have pioneered remote working for many of their staff, communicating with webcams and Skype. Instead of getting the staff together for monthly meetings, the Chief Executive sends out a podcast, not just saving on travel, but avoiding any backchat!

Online service delivery

AbilityNet also use broadband internet to provide services around the country. This means that people in remote parts of the country can access their services. It also save on carbon miles as AbilityNet staff no longer have to travel to deliver services.

Find out more about how AbilityNet is using technology

The computer revolution

Many of the problems smaller organisations face with information and communication technologies are down to a lack of support. Two thirds of registered charities have incomes of less that £10,000 a year, so it’s not always feasible to purchase support when they need it.

Greener computing is not just about saving power, but also about using technology effectively and efficiently.

“The Hub is here to help voluntary and community organisations use technology to their advantage,” says Nicola Thompson, head of the ICT Hub, “we can help them use it more effectively and efficiently. Its about making the most of what’s available, and in the long run they’ll save money, but also go some way to reducing carbon emissions.”

Case study – saving money and energy

The Basement is a non-for-profit social centre in Manchester. It provides a meeting space and free computer facilities for local grassroots organisations.

When they came to reviewing their computer network they realised they did not have the budget to replace it with a traditional computer network. A group of IT volunteers soon realised that the most cost effective and energy efficient solution for replacing the network would be a ‘thin-client’ network.

Put simply, this means that instead of using your desktop PC for processing information, all it does is connect directly to fast server, and all the processing takes place on the server. This meant that the only computer they needed to replace was the server, and as the desktop PCs were no longer processing any information, they were using about five times less power, and operating much faster.

Case study - recycling your old PCs

There’s more and more demand for recycling facilities for computers. Since the 1st July 2007 the WEEE directive has become a legal obligation. It stands for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment, and it’s now an obligation for end users of PCs to ensure they are disposed of properly, and that means recycled.

The ICT Hub has been in touch with several projects that finds useful and innovative homes for old PCs.

One of these is Access Space in Sheffield, a community project that reuses old PCs from businesses and educational establishments. The demand from organisations willing to pay others to take ICT equipment for recycling means that Access Space finds no shortage of supply from the local area as well as a ready source of income.

The project refurbishes the old computers, and re-uses them in a public resource centre.

Anyone can just walk in and use the equipment, and everyone is encouraged to be creative and to learn new things. Skilled support workers are available to help, and to promote self-learning.

Access Space also runs a number of free workshops in association with local groups. All the software running on the machines is Open Source, meaning that the project does not have to pay software licenses, saving money and ensuring continued sustainability.

What can community groups and frontline charities do to reduce their carbon footprint?

Your organisation can make a difference without much difficulty. The most important thing is too educate all equipment users and encourage them to take individual responsibility.

• Become a workplace champion, and educate your colleagues
• Make sure PCs are turned off at night and especially weekends
• Don’t forget to turn off printers and other equipment
• Make sure occasional and casual users of equipment are aware of need to shut down when they are finished
• Set PCs to go on stand by if they haven’t been in use for five minutes
• Use technology instead of travel
• Print material only when necessary, and always use both sides of the page
• Make greener computing part of your policies and future strategies

How can the ICT Hub help?

The ICT Hub has loads of resources that can help:

• Check out our Publications page, where you can download loads of information on how best to manage your ICT needs
• The ICT Hub can put you in touch with ICT volunteers or circuit riders - mobile IT technicians who can offer low cost support
• Check out some of the ICT Hub’s free events

Find out more at Computing Magazine’s Green IT website

Green geekery - Beth Kanter discusses greener computing on her blog