A Green technology brainstorm is headed for the IT world as the inaugural International Green IT Awareness Week launches its website today.

Green IT Week is a collaborative initiative consisting of in-person and online seminars and activities across the globe from June 1 to 7, and hosted by the not-for-profit organisation ComputersOff.ORG.

Celebrities have also been lined up to help create awareness and one of the most electorally successful politicians in Australia, Peter Beattie, has confirmed his support.

Mr Beattie announced he is thrilled to be involved with Green IT Week and stressed the urgency of creating awareness about this cause.

“Technology is something the majority of us uses every day, but too few of us consider technology also spew tons of carbon emissions into the atmosphere,” Mr Beattie said.

“However, through Green IT Week, people can learn how to reduce carbon emissions produced by IT, in addition to how technology can help solve bigger environmental issues,” Mr Beattie said.

CEO for ComputersOff.ORG, Ms Bianca Wirth, said Green IT is a goal many businesses have aspired to since mid-2000's, but still many organisations don't have enough information to enable them to build a strong business case for implementation and cost savings.

“As an objective not-for-profit organisation, ComputersOff.ORG wants to shine a spotlight on Green IT and with the awareness week pave the way for organisations to initiate, promote and support green IT discussions,” Ms Wirth said.

“We also aim to empower employees, as well as executives, with the knowledge and innovative ideas to reduce the environmental footprint of their organisation and achieve positive return on their investment,” Ms Wirth said.

Ms Wirth said there are even small steps each organisation can take which – when multiplied across the globe – contribute a massive reduction to the global greenhouse gas toll.

“As an individual, by turning your computer off each night when you leave work, you will help save as much energy as it takes to make 9,280 bags of microwave popcorn, or to produce 3,480 plastic bags in a year,” Ms Wirth said.

Until now, Ms Wirth said, organisations were missing a centralised, cohesive initiative which will enable them to both understand the benefits, challenges and cultural changes required for green IT, and appreciate the current research enabling them to plan for the future.

“Now, through International Green IT Awareness Week everyone can learn about practical implementation of environmentally sustainable IT practices they can undertake today,” Wirth said.

“International Green IT Awareness Week will feature expert researchers, green IT specialists, IT vendors and manufacturers, and organisations who have already successfully implemented their own green IT initiatives in a single intensive week,” she added.

Ms Wirth is excited for the International Green IT Awareness Week, which will be held from June 1 through 7, with the associated website launching on March 22 2010. 

The website – www.greenitweek.org - will provide a central place for individuals and businesses to find out what is going on during the week both locally and online in their time zone.

Officially launched in June 2008, ComputersOff.ORG focuses on education initiatives aimed at growing awareness of green IT; and provides certification based on the industry Green ICT benchmark.

The ComputersOff.ORG Certification initiative is a guide to help business, government and individuals quickly and easily identify organizations which are reducing their technology-related environmental footprint and in turn reducing their greenhouse gas emissions.

All profits from certification are funnelled back into developing and implementing green IT education initiatives both locally and globally.

For further information on International Green IT Awareness Week, register your interest at: www.greenitweek.org.

-ENDS-

Contact information:

Helene Johansen

Marketing & PR Co-ordinator

ComputersOff.ORG

Phone: +61 410 603 094

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