IT for Green, a Global Perspective
Abstract
Journal of Global Information Technology Management, 18: 1–5, 2015 Published with license by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC ISSN: 1097-198X print / 2333-6846 online DOI: 10.1080/1097198X.2015.1017399 EDITORIAL PREFACE Ricardo Colomo-Palacios Computer Sciences Department, Østfold University College, Halden, Norway INTRODUCTION Electricity demands are increasing globally. The International Energy Outlook 2013 forecasts that world energy consumption will grow by 56% between 2010 and 2040. In this environment, the sustainability of energy supply and consumption must be based on better management solutions and new technologies in the generation, distribution, and consumption of energy. Information technology (IT) is one of the main players in energy consumption in the world. Moreover, the share of IT in total electricity consumption is increasing. As a reaction to that, the so-called Green IT movement emerged. This field of study is aimed to reduce IT-related energy consumption and overall IT environmental impact. In a nutshell, Green IT entails five benefits (Murugesan, 2008): reduces power consumption, lowers costs, lowers carbon emissions and environmental impact, improves systems performance and use, and saves space. But IT can also be seen as an enabler of energy savings outside its direct consumption. In other words, IT can be an important means to make