The majority of IT managers are feeling pressure to reduce their carbon footprints, according to a survey commissioned by Zycko, the value-added distributor of best-in-class convergent IT solutions.

61% feel pressure to cut down on their energy usage and 60% plan to reduce their carbon footprint within the next 18 months. Encouragingly, most (70%) already have some green measures in place such as remote working and video conferencing facilities to reduce the need for employees to travel.

The independent OmniBoss research, conducted by Vanson Bourne, provides a detailed overview of the green IT issues currently faced by medium to large UK businesses.

David Galton-Fenzi, Zycko’s Group Sales Director, comments:
“The fact that almost two thirds of businesses are committed to improving their green credentials shows how far we have come over the past few years, and demonstrates a real shift in attitudes towards climate change and the environment. This is a very positive sign.”

The research also identified major hurdles on the way to reducing carbon emissions. Almost two thirds (67%) of IT managers are unaware of how much power their data centre draws and less than half (45%) currently enforce shutting down of computers at night and on weekends. Six per cent have no policies in place at all.

Lack of IT resources and cost were cited as the biggest barriers to becoming green (52%), with 23% claiming they simply do not know what their options are. When asked where they get their information on environmental issues, 39% claimed they rely on their suppliers.