Sustainable IT
Confused about how enterprise IT can support sustainability? Read guides, tips and news on how to decarbonize and green IT, reduce e-waste, support circular economy principles, create more sustainable data centers and hold vendors responsible for net zero goals.
Top Stories
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News
12 Dec 2023
Green IT needs business buy-in for success
In this Q&A, Faith Taylor of Kyndryl explains why sustainability efforts must combine business growth with concrete emissions reporting to meet net zero targets. Continue Reading
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Tip
05 Dec 2023
Why businesses should recycle enterprise devices
Sustainability should be a consideration at every stage of the device lifecycle, and this doesn't stop at device retirement. Recycling enterprise devices offers several benefits. Continue Reading
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Tip
28 Nov 2023
Use the data center circular economy for sustainability
Building data center servers and hardware requires use of many of Earth's nonrenewable resources. Data center owners must adopt the circular economy system for sustainability. Continue Reading
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News
18 Oct 2023
Dell PowerMaxOS 10.1 targets operational, energy efficiency
The latest Dell PowerMaxOS update brings greater data reduction and power usage monitoring to its top-of-the-line storage array. The update also keyed in on cyber-resilience. Continue Reading
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News
06 Oct 2023
How machine learning can combat climate change
Machine learning can produce sustainability insights and help plan effective climate action. But researchers face challenges around data, compute and AI's own environmental impact. Continue Reading
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Tip
11 Sep 2023
Assessing the environmental impact of large language models
Large language models like ChatGPT consume massive amounts of energy and water during training and after deployment. Learn how to understand and reduce their environmental impact. Continue Reading
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Feature
06 Sep 2023
Toward justice and sustainability in the tech industry
In this excerpt from his book 'Insolvent,' author and professor Christoph Becker outlines why and how to reorient the tech sector toward social justice and sustainability. Continue Reading
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Feature
06 Sep 2023
Designing systems that reduce the environmental impact of AI
Understanding AI's full climate impact means looking past model training to real-world usage, but developers can take tangible steps to improve efficiency and monitor emissions. Continue Reading
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Feature
06 Sep 2023
The role of tech in climate change and climate justice
In this interview, Insolvent author Christoph Becker discusses tech's complex effects on climate and society and the need to center social justice and sustainability in computing. Continue Reading
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News
31 Aug 2023
Hitachi Energy-Google Cloud make energy data accessible
Hitachi Energy Velocity Suite Power Prices is now available on Google Cloud Marketplace, enabling access to energy data that can help with power consumption. Continue Reading
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Tip
30 Aug 2023
Are wireless networks more energy-efficient than wired LANs?
The quick, complicated answer is yes and no. Wireless can be more energy-efficient than wired, but businesses need to weigh several variables to reap energy savings. Continue Reading
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Tip
25 Aug 2023
How to modernize networks with sustainability in mind
A network modernization project is a good time to consider sustainability initiatives, such as using energy-efficient devices and renewable energy sources. Continue Reading
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Opinion
21 Aug 2023
HPE advances ambitious sustainability goals
From an accelerated net-zero goal to an enhanced portfolio of sustainable IT offerings, HPE shares updates from the company's latest Living Progress report. Continue Reading
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Feature
27 Jul 2023
Experts talk impact, challenges of AI and emerging tech
Companies must consider many risks as AI and other emerging technologies evolve at a rapid pace. In this interview excerpt, experts discuss the societal and environmental effects. Continue Reading
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Tip
26 Jul 2023
Data center heat reuse: How to make the most of excess heat
Data center heat doesn't need to go to waste. As part of a sustainability strategy, explore ways to put the heat your data center produces to work, and consider heat reuse. Continue Reading
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Feature
17 Jul 2023
Weigh video conferencing sustainability benefits and challenges
Video conferencing sustainability is about more than reducing travel. Learn the role video technology can play in ESG goals, as well as potential environmental drawbacks. Continue Reading
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Feature
05 Jul 2023
6 reasons legacy systems are still in use
Staying with tried-and-true legacy systems can feel like the safest route. But as the world changes at a dizzying pace, IT leaders might want to reconsider that strategy. Continue Reading
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Feature
16 Jun 2023
4 PC lifecycle management best practices
There isn't a perfect PC lifecycle plan for all organizations, so IT teams and management should ask themselves these four questions to shape their PC policy. Continue Reading
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Feature
09 Jun 2023
New Cisco tools aim to enable green networks, data centers
At Cisco Live 2023, Cisco unveiled new products and updates to its portfolio to help organizations create sustainable data center networks as they modernize their infrastructures. Continue Reading
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Tip
07 Jun 2023
Strategies to work toward data center decarbonization
Global temperatures are rising, and organizations can do their part by decarbonizing their data centers. Examine ways to cut back on data center carbon emissions. Continue Reading
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News
05 Jun 2023
HPE adds environmental reporting dashboard to GreenLake
A new dashboard for HPE's GreenLake tracks a company's carbon emissions and energy use. But ESG experts warn the lack of standardization opens the market up to greenwashing. Continue Reading
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Tip
02 Jun 2023
Best practices for a PC end-of-life policy
Organizations that deploy PCs need a strong and clear policy to handle hardware maintenance, end of life decisions, sustainable disposal practices and more. Continue Reading
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Opinion
01 Jun 2023
Sustainability highlights from Dell Technologies World 2023
At Dell Technologies World 2023, company reps discussed sustainability and showed some areas where the company has advanced. But making progress is no straightforward journey. Continue Reading
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Feature
30 May 2023
7 key benefits of enacting a BYOD policy
While some benefits of a BYOD program are obvious, such as allowing users to only carry one endpoint, other benefits are worth exploring, such as lowering corporate emissions. Continue Reading
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Tip
25 May 2023
Differences between Green Globes vs. LEED for data centers
Consider Green Globes and LEED certifications when building green data centers. Learn the differences in how the assessments are done, the costs and documentation needs. Continue Reading
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Tip
22 May 2023
Navigate Energy Star data center standard and certification
Organizations can use the Energy Star data center standard and certified assets to be more energy efficient. Consider Energy Star certification to preserve capital and save energy. Continue Reading
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Opinion
02 May 2023
Calculating sustainability and emissions for VDI and DaaS
Though VDI and DaaS are both desktop virtualization services, their sustainability can differ significantly, so business leaders should learn how to calculate their emissions. Continue Reading
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Feature
02 May 2023
Where climate change and cyber attacks intersect
One session at RSA Conference 2023 focused on climate change -- a topic that is not commonly featured during cybersecurity conversations, but should be. Continue Reading
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Feature
28 Apr 2023
3D printing has a complex relationship with sustainability
3D printing promises some sustainability benefits, including creating lighter parts and shorter supply chains, but the overall question of its environmental value is complex. Continue Reading
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Tip
26 Apr 2023
Overcome obstacles to storage sustainability
Green IT initiatives should include data storage, but there are various sustainability challenges related to both on-premises and cloud-based storage systems. Continue Reading
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News
25 Apr 2023
KubeCon highlights open source to combat climate change
Addressing climate change takes a community. At KubeCon Europe 2023, experts discussed how open source practices and projects can foster sustainability. Continue Reading
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News
21 Apr 2023
Sustainability strategy must focus on energy consumption
In this Q&A, Greg Cudahy of EY discusses why more efficient energy consumption helps companies meet sustainability goals and how public-private investment drives energy transitions. Continue Reading
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Feature
20 Apr 2023
5 IT sustainability approaches to consider
IT plays a crucial role as companies prioritize ESG efforts. These five sustainability approaches could help organizations reduce long-term environmental effects. Continue Reading
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Feature
19 Apr 2023
ESG strategy and management: Complete guide for businesses
ESG initiatives can help boost business success. This guide takes an in-depth look at creating and managing an ESG strategy to benefit a company and its various stakeholders. Continue Reading
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Feature
11 Apr 2023
18 sustainability management software providers to consider
Various software tools are available to help manage ESG and sustainability initiatives. Here's a look at 18 sustainability management vendors and their products. Continue Reading
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Opinion
10 Apr 2023
The era of the sustainable data center
Sustainability in product design is becoming important to organizations. In the age of sustainability in the data center, don't forget about energy efficiency in your messaging. Continue Reading
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Feature
10 Apr 2023
Sustainability and ESG glossary: 52 terms to know
Sustainable strategies require basic understanding of the fundamentals. Business leaders and IT teams can benefit from this list of essential sustainability terms and ESG concepts. Continue Reading
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Feature
07 Apr 2023
A timeline and history of ESG investing, rules and practices
Many events, trends, actions and milestones over the past three decades have imbued businesses and investors with a stronger social, environmental and sustainability commitment. Continue Reading
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Feature
28 Mar 2023
Top 10 enterprise technology trends for 2023
IT investments underpin an organizational performance and help businesses gain a competitive edge. That's why CIOs and IT leaders should know the top enterprise tech trends. Continue Reading
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Guest Post
28 Mar 2023
How IoT helps environmental, social and governance goals
Organizations must address sustainability concerns as IoT device use grows. Cloud optimization, smart buildings and predictive maintenance can help meet ESG goals. Continue Reading
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News
27 Mar 2023
AWS public cloud advocate talks cloud spend, ChatGPT and ESG
In this Q&A, AWS' Mark Schwartz argues that a pure cloud future is inevitable to manage ESG compliance, test cutting edge technologies and weather economic turbulence. Continue Reading
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Feature
17 Mar 2023
10 key ESG and sustainability trends, ideas for companies
From consumers to employees to investors, more people are choosing companies that prioritize environmental, social and governance concerns. Here are 10 ESG trends that matter. Continue Reading
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Tip
09 Feb 2023
4 ways to reduce network power consumption
A heavy reliance on the network can increase energy use across businesses. Here are some best practices network teams can follow to reduce power consumption. Continue Reading
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Feature
06 Feb 2023
Why is sustainable marketing important?
On a grand scale, sustainable marketing brings awareness to environmental and social issues. On a business level, this practice can improve brand loyalty and worker engagement. Continue Reading
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Feature
01 Feb 2023
Kepler project aims to help curb Kubernetes energy waste
Running Kubernetes clusters can lead to high costs and energy use. The researchers behind the Kepler project hope the tool will help IT pros track and curb cluster energy waste. Continue Reading
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Feature
27 Jan 2023
Why IT asset management should include sustainability
CIOs must do more with less as economic concerns grow, and continue to drive environmental, social and governance efforts. Pairing IT asset management and sustainability can help. Continue Reading
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Feature
27 Jan 2023
How do green marketing and sustainable marketing differ?
Many organizations use green and sustainable marketing to build trust with consumers. Green marketing focuses on the environment, whereas sustainable marketing is broader. Continue Reading
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Tip
25 Jan 2023
Use ISO 50001:2018 as a guide for green data centers
Data centers use a lot of energy, and it can be difficult to navigate how to reduce energy use. ISO 50001:2018 provides guidance to create energy-saving plans and use targets. Continue Reading
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Tip
28 Dec 2022
Top data storage best practices include security, sustainability
Budgets are tight and risks are pervasive, so it's critical for admins to get the most out of storage. These tips touch on areas such as sensitive data storage and sustainability. Continue Reading
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Feature
20 Dec 2022
5 sustainability initiatives in the telecommunications industry
Telecom operators have committed to sustainability plans to reduce carbon emissions and energy use. But they also face challenges, like competing goals and behavioral changes. Continue Reading
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Feature
14 Dec 2022
How AI can assist industries in environmental protection efforts
While technology for environmental protection isn't a new concept, AI advancements empower businesses to achieve sustainable operations. Continue Reading
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Feature
06 Dec 2022
AWS analytics tools help French utility go green
The cloud computing giant's suite enabled Engie SA to transition away from fossil fuels and now helps the French utility manage a network of renewable energy sources. Continue Reading
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Feature
01 Nov 2022
Sustainable software needs more tools, corporate buy-in
Several tools can help developers build sustainable software, but it won't make a dent in carbon emissions without organizational support and better monitoring tools. Continue Reading
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Feature
25 Oct 2022
New ways of upcycling CO2, decarbonizing steel and cement
The industrial sector has a massive carbon footprint. That's why some companies are working to clean up steel and cement and find new uses for carbon. Continue Reading
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News
14 Oct 2022
Sustainable procurement goes mainstream, influences IT buys
ESG considerations add a new dimension to IT purchasing criteria and, more broadly, could bridge the gap between business leaders and IT professionals. Continue Reading
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Feature
30 Sep 2022
Fair Repair Act could help spur circular economy model
New regulations including the Fair Repair Act coupled with factors like consumer demand for sustainability are motivating manufacturers to consider a circular economy model. Continue Reading
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News
29 Sep 2022
Climate LLC taps feature flags for mobile app development
Feature flags facilitated fast rollbacks and trunk-based mobile development for a digital farming software maker amid volatility due to business growth and climate change. Continue Reading
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Feature
20 Sep 2022
Climate tech vs. clean tech: What's the difference?
Businesses and consumers are becoming more concerned with environmental effects -- and how they can make changes or use clean tech and climate tech to make a difference. Continue Reading
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Feature
31 Aug 2022
Techniques to get started with green networking
'Emerging Green Technologies' details how technology is a flexible tool organizations can use to make business operations more sustainable. Here's how to make your network green. Continue Reading
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Feature
31 Aug 2022
How energy-efficient networking supports sustainability
In this Q&A, 'Emerging Green Technologies' author Matthew N. O. Sadiku discusses the importance of going green and how to make networks energy-efficient to achieve this goal. Continue Reading
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Feature
28 Jul 2022
How vendors support sustainable networking initiatives
Organizations are focusing on sustainability in all business divisions, including network operations. These tools could help organizations make their enterprise networks green. Continue Reading
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News
25 Jul 2022
SAP green CX tech aids sustainable retail, B2B sales
SAP users can tackle sustainable e-commerce -- and be accountable to customers wary of 'greenwashing' -- with a bundle of Qualtrics, CDP, e-commerce and other tech tools. Continue Reading
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News
15 Jul 2022
Consultancy benefits from green coding certification mandate
In this Q&A, GFT CTO Dean Clark details how his company's green coding certification program is bringing benefits beyond higher-quality, more efficient code. Continue Reading
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Feature
11 Jul 2022
Green AI tackles effects of AI, ML on climate change
AI and ML are making a significant contribution to climate change. Developers can help reverse the trend with best practices and tools to measure carbon efficiency. Continue Reading
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Feature
16 May 2022
What sustainable data storage means for your data center
Storage sustainability requires commitment from the entire organization. Don't put it on the back burner -- these tips can help the environment and keep the issue top of mind. Continue Reading
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News
11 May 2022
SAP Sapphire focuses on speed, disruption, sustainability
At SAP Sapphire 2022, the ERP vendor highlighted accelerating business transformation, disruptions to supply chains and sustainability as main challenges that businesses face. Continue Reading
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News
28 Apr 2022
AI's effects on climate change: Both good and bad
With more companies building supercomputers and infrastructure that requires a lot of compute power, AI may be doing more harm than good to the planet. Continue Reading
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Feature
30 Mar 2022
The global state of data center sustainability
Review green initiatives in the world of data centers: sustainable designs and practices, what other organizations are doing and where IT falls short. Continue Reading
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Tip
29 Mar 2022
How to put cybersecurity sustainability into practice
Cybersecurity sustainability practices involve mitigating cyber-risk without burning out people -- or burning through resources. Explore what that looks like on the ground. Continue Reading
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Tip
16 Mar 2022
3 benefits of sustainable cybersecurity in the enterprise
Sustainable cybersecurity means taking the long view on cyber-risk mitigation. Explore the technical, financial, societal and reputational wins it can net for the enterprise. Continue Reading
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Tip
10 Mar 2022
What to look for in a green cloud storage provider
Alongside cost and flexibility, a commitment to sustainability is a key consideration for organizations trying to choose a cloud storage provider. Continue Reading
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Podcast
28 Feb 2022
Is ERP good for sustainability -- or part of the problem?
ERP vendors tout new tools for improving environmental sustainability. TechTarget editors discuss these and other ways IT both helps and hurts the environment. Continue Reading
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Feature
04 Feb 2022
ERP critical to achieving sustainability goals in 2022
Sustainability is a major priority for businesses in 2022, driven by internal goals, customer demand and regulations. ERP systems are at the center of sustainability projects. Continue Reading
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News
10 Jan 2022
Dell, Lenovo, HP pitch sustainable laptops
Dell, Lenovo and HP have introduced laptops to help customers meet environmental, social and governance policies, which have become critical factors in buying decisions. Continue Reading
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Tip
27 Dec 2021
Tips to reduce the environmental impact of data storage
Data storage technology can harm the environment. Choose efficient storage strategies and green-friendly cloud providers to help reduce the environmental impact of data storage. Continue Reading
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Feature
24 Nov 2021
Vendors position ERP as heart of circular economy model
ERP vendors SAP and IFS are positioning themselves at the forefront of enterprise sustainability efforts just as businesses focus on reducing waste and prepare for new regulations. Continue Reading
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Feature
19 Nov 2021
Get started with green energy for your data center
Running a sustainable data center requires organizations to consider factors such as facility sustainability, efficient storage and servers, and outsourcing options. Continue Reading
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Feature
12 Nov 2021
IoT drives sustainable development and the bottom line
Emerging technologies, including virtual reality, AI and IoT, are critical for organizations to ensure that they remain profitable and sustainable in the long run. Continue Reading
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Feature
02 Nov 2021
How to use IoT for energy efficiency and sustainability
Organizations in any industry can adopt IoT devices, including smart thermostats and lighting systems, to reduce their electrical consumption and make buildings more sustainable. Continue Reading
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Guest Post
11 Oct 2021
Transforming buildings to be smart and sustainable
To meet greenhouse gas reduction targets and regulatory requirements, companies must transform facilities into energy-efficient smart buildings, and IoT platforms can help. Continue Reading
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Feature
30 Sep 2021
Agriculture IoT promotes sustainable practices
Agricultural organizations can adopt IoT in their farming practices to not only optimize their production, but also to improve their sustainability with precision agriculture. Continue Reading
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Tip
27 Sep 2021
Considerations for sustainable data center design
To design a green, sustainable data center, consider methods to improve energy conservation and efficiency. Then, look into green -- or greener -- energy source alternatives. Continue Reading
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Feature
21 Sep 2021
AI carbon footprint: Helping and hurting the environment
Companies can use AI to help the environment, including by using it to prevent forest fires and reduce factory waste. At the same time, AI has its own carbon footprint. Continue Reading
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Feature
31 Aug 2021
AI and climate change: The mixed impact of machine learning
AI can both help and hurt the environment. While companies use artificial intelligence to increase factory efficiency and lower energy costs, training AI demands a lot of energy. Continue Reading
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Feature
26 Aug 2021
Energy consumption of AI poses environmental problems
Data centers and large AI models use massive amounts of energy and are harmful to the environment. Businesses can take action to lower their environmental impact. Continue Reading
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Feature
24 Aug 2021
How does SAP intend to support a circular economy?
SAP's circular economy efforts include its new software Responsible Design and Production. Learn how it can help producers take responsibility for their environmental impact. Continue Reading
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Feature
17 Aug 2021
Hidden issues complicate sustainability in IT manufacturing
Clare Hobby of TCO Development discusses how difficult it is to rate IT products' sustainability. But corporate buyers and consumers have the power to demand something different. Continue Reading
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Feature
13 Aug 2021
10 strategies for more sustainable last-mile delivery
Creating eco-friendly last-mile delivery strategies is an important business and societal challenge. Here are some options supply chain leaders can explore. Continue Reading
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Feature
02 Aug 2021
ERP goes green, ahead of customer sustainability initiatives
As sustainability becomes a more key topic for businesses, enterprise applications vendors are touting programs to support efforts like carbon reduction and the circular economy. Continue Reading
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Feature
22 Jul 2021
Cubbit offers 'green' distributed cloud storage option
New EU startup aims to offer alternative to major cloud storage with a distributed model, offering increased security and potentially less environmental waste for a lower cost. Continue Reading
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Feature
20 Jul 2021
Tech giants foster green software engineering movement
The Green Software Foundation, which includes Accenture and Microsoft as members, will create an ecosystem of people, standards, tools and practices to develop green software. Continue Reading
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Answer
14 Jul 2021
Which SAP software supports sustainability?
SAP is releasing new sustainability software to give organizations the environmental data they need to achieve climate targets. Learn more about each type. Continue Reading
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Feature
13 Jul 2021
The environmental challenges of last-mile delivery
Current last-mile delivery practices are contributing to climate change, and companies need to address these ill effects. Understand how to start taking action. Continue Reading
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Feature
11 Jun 2021
How 4 companies are improving last-mile delivery sustainability
Companies such as L'Occitane en Provence and Walmart are trying out different strategies to improve their last-mile delivery sustainability. Here's how they're doing it. Continue Reading
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News
11 Jun 2021
IT consultants go for green cloud computing
Sustainability and green cloud computing have gained a higher profile in recent months, leading consultancies like Accenture and ThoughtWorks to pursue new services; other news. Continue Reading
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Feature
17 May 2021
ERP plays vital role in sustainability trend
In this Q&A, IFS CEO Darren Roos discusses how enterprise systems like ERP can enable companies to develop and manage more effective sustainability initiatives. Continue Reading
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Feature
31 Mar 2021
Circular economy model enables sustainability and resilience
In this Q&A, IFS' Colin Elkins discusses the circular economy and how it can improve sustainability, enable business models like servitization and become a competitive advantage. Continue Reading
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Tip
06 Nov 2020
3 ways to ease the green data storage transition
Energy-efficient storage promises several benefits. Finding the right approach requires carefully assessing available technology, where you keep your data and costs. Continue Reading
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News
25 Sep 2020
Google, Unilever partnership uses AI for sustainable sourcing
Unilever says it will use Google Earth Engine, Google Cloud Storage and BigQuery, as well as AI technologies, to create a deforestation-free supply chain by 2023. Continue Reading
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Feature
28 Aug 2020
Amazon's sustainability initiatives: Half empty or half full?
Amazon's public perception and investment profile are at stake as altruism and self-interest mix in its efforts to become a more sustainable company. Continue Reading
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Feature
26 Aug 2020
S/4HANA helps Queen of Raw improve textile sustainability
Queen of Raw's S/4HANA-based textile marketplace app is helping suppliers of the fashion industry reduce waste by keeping unused inventory out of landfills. Continue Reading
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News
05 Feb 2019
Carbon Relay debuts AI-based software for data center cooling
Newcomer Carbon Relay has introduced two products that use artificial intelligence to help IT pros manage data center efficiency. Continue Reading