High Tech = Low Waste = Big Savings
By: Michelle Robinovitz
Part two of our four part series on ‘Your Business and the Economy' focuses on the connection between high tech, low waste and big savings. It's no secret that the environment is on all of our minds these days. And no matter what business we're in, it's critical to look for new ways to conserve. But while we usually associate ‘Reduce, Reuse, Recycle' with paper and plastic, did you know that you can also ‘Go Green' with technology, and as a result, save your company thousands of dollars? At AGH, we pride ourselves on not only on being named #1 on the list of "The Best Places to Work in Atlanta" by the Atlanta Business Chronicle, but by also being a leader in environmentally conscious work places. This year, we improved our impact on the environment and doing so has made a great impact on our bottom line. "Most people don't make a direct correlation between information technology, budgeting and the environment," says AGH Director of Information Technology, Larry Courtney. "But efficient use of technology is one of the best ways to reduce waste and save money."
If you're thinking about "Going Green" with your IT Department, consider some of these eco-friendly and ultimately budget-friendly initiatives:
Use of Blade Servers in place of Standard Servers. Blade Servers are high density self-contained servers which consume roughly half the energy of standard servers. As a result, the servers produce less heat and are cooled at a faster rate, decreasing the need for excess air conditioning and reducing overall energy consumption in the office. With the replacement of blade servers last year, AGH has been able to cut its server room power requirements by 30 to 40 percent.
Utilization of Virtual Servers. Virtual servers allow several servers to run off of one physical server instead of each one on its own individual unit. While the initial cost to implement is a bit more than standard servers, Courtney feels the investment pays for itself in the end. "Virtual servers require less cooling power," he says, "and are more efficient when it comes to disaster recovery." The result: lower heating and air conditioning bills. In addition, virtual servers are also able to detect hardware issues and can switch physical servers automatically when problems arise, averting problems before they occur, ultimately saving time and money.
Make Paper a Thing of the Past. For years, AGH has been operating in a paperless environment. All files are stored electronically, and when possible, final work products are transmitted electronically as well. This year, AGH has taken the initiative one step further by providing each associate with three monitors on their desk, enabling them to have information at their fingertips without having to print documents for review. Now associates can have side-by-side screen access to prepare a client work product while reviewing information stored in our paperless document management system and collaborating or researching issues related to the project all at the same time.
Enabling Employees to Work from Home with Virtual Offices. At AGH, all employees are set up to work virtually, which not only saves gas but reduces the number of cars and vehicular emissions on the road. Virtual offices are equipped with automatic call forwarding, remote Web access and printing capabilities directly to the office. A successful remote IT program should allow for a seamless transition between working from home and working from the office, and be undetectable by clients. It also gives employees the flexibility they need when balancing work and their personal lives.
Active Recycling Program for Old Equipment. AGH recently donated 17 computer monitors to a local not-for-profit agency serving the needs of families in metro Atlanta. Donating this equipment not only cut back on waste within the company, but provided a much needed service to a valued agency in the community. Donating unneeded equipment is also a beneficial tax write-off.
Back to Basics. We should all be reminded to ask ourselves "Do I really need to print this?" Cutting back on printing not only saves paper but saves toner, printer equipment and even maintenance costs. By printing responsibly we can each do our part. And of course if you do have to print, recycling bins placed strategically throughout the office makes recycling that paper easy and accessible. We all want to do our share, but sometimes making it easy makes the difference.
While the cost to make significant changes in technology can certainly be high, the success of AGH's active "Green IT" program has played a significant role in reducing the company's energy costs in 2008. According to Managing Partner, Paul Paris, it was a wise business move. "The combination of cutting edge technology, energy efficiency, waste reduction and saving money is a model we are proud of and is exactly where we want our business to be." As far as our future plans, Courtney notes, "a switch to virtualized desktop systems within the office will allow for an even greater reduction in power consumption, costs per unit, and desktop setup/upgrade times.
For additional information and tips on how you can help your IT Department "Go Green", contact Larry Courtney, Director of Information Technology at (404) 835-1916 or larry.courtney@aghllc.com.