Reducing ICT carbon footprints through adoption of green computing

Abstract

A significant economic, environmental and sustainability topic in information and communication technology (ICT) and e-business sectors is green computing. An aspect of green informatics, green computing is gaining attention because of its wide-ranging benefits over traditional computing; factors that inhibit the adoption of green computing are therefore of vital concern. This paper investigates the benefits of green computing including economic, social and environmental impacts, especially those of e-waste. Because ICTs play such a central role in technological innovation, in the economy and in protecting the environment, understanding the core drivers of green computing adoption is important in business, industry and government. Global adoption of green computing and key barriers to implementation are examined. The key research contribution of this paper lies in its pragmatic, multi-disciplinary recommendations for the adoption of green computing, which are invaluable for strategic decision making.