IDC Survey Shows Energy Concerns Lead the Way Toward Green IT Adoption

Despite some regional differences in priorities and motivators, senior business executives and ICT decision-makers around the world agree that Green IT initiatives are at the top of their agenda. According to IDC's latest global Green IT survey, these executives are becoming more deeply involved in their companies' green-based initiatives as pressures mount to cut costs and as government mandates begin targeting carbon emissions and the disposal of all IT equipment.

IDC polled more than 1,500 C-level business and technology executives across 10 industrial countries to understand what Green IT activities were important to them and why. Energy costs continue to be the most pressing factor driving Green IT adoption, even as oil prices drop. Globally, 71% of the respondents identified this as their highest priority. Among U.S. respondents, 77% identified energy as the most important factor behind green adoption in their companies, while 74% of European respondents saw energy concerns as the number 1 driver of green initiatives.

"The cost savings associated with reducing power consumption is definitely capturing the attention of IT decision makers around the world," said Vernon Turner, senior vice president, Enterprise Infrastructure, Consumer, and Telecom Research at IDC. "Buyers understand that energy efficient, recyclable products do contribute to lowering operating costs."

Additionally, hardcopy output and printing is becoming a key green initiative among organizations expanding their green horizons. Nearly two thirds of the companies surveyed indicated that a shift from print to online is underway at their companies (either currently implemented, in pilot, or in proof of concept). In Asia/Pacific, 69% of the respondents identified these changes in company behavior.

Other key findings from IDC's Green IT survey include:

• Green IT initiatives in the U.S. will continue to focus on lowering energy costs, but pending asset management regulations will introduce a new set of issues.
• Europe is lagging other regions in senior management interest in and customer pressure to show sustainability, but regulatory pressures are likely to drive change in this area.
• In many ways, Japan is a leader in Green IT, having adopted many environmentally friendly policies years earlier. Yet investment in green IT is lower in Japan than in other regions.
• Being green has become increasingly important in Latin American where Mexico's government is actively promoting Green IT initiatives and regulations. But overall, Green IT initiatives in the region are still at an early stage of development.

More findings from IDC's latest Global Green IT Survey can be found in Green IT: Global Research Shows Consistent Concerns and Key Local Differences (IDC #215676). This IDC study shares a global view of Green IT in ten leading industrial countries (Japan, China, India, Mexico, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Spain, Germany, France, and the United States), and provides some of the major highlights from each region.

To purchase this document, contact call IDC Sales at 508-988-7988 or sales@idc.com.

More information about IDC's Green IT research can be found at http://www.idc.com/research/greenit.jsp.

About IDC

IDC is the premier global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events for the information technology, telecommunications, and consumer technology markets. IDC helps IT professionals, business executives, and the investment community make fact-based decisions on technology purchases and business strategy. More than 1,000 IDC analysts provide global, regional, and local expertise on technology and industry opportunities and trends in over 110 countries. For more than 44 years, IDC has provided strategic insights to help our clients achieve their key business objectives. IDC is a subsidiary of IDG, the world's leading technology media, research, and events company. You can learn more about IDC by visiting www.idc.com.

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