Green ICT To Reduce Energy Consumption And Fend Off Global Warming

Posted on Apr 25, 2010

Energy consumption for the application of information and communication technology is reaching 40 percent of total global energy consumption. Not only that this figures will continue to grow with the rapid expenditure of ICT (information and communication technologies) products worldwide.

Environmentally Friendly ICT requires substantial initial investment

“This figure will continue to grow in line with the rapid expenditure of ICT products across the world,” added Partono in an event titled “Green ICT, ICT Innovation Economy Conference and Exhibition”.

The event was held on Thursday (08/04/2010) at Jakarta Convention Center (JCC) in cooperation with Inixindo, Info Komputer, Himals 4, and Indonesian Information Technology Federation (FTII) and was opened by the Indonesian Minister of Communications and Information Tifatul Sembiring.

“We need to encourage the use of technology to make savings and environmentally friendly technologies. This Green ICT is to find solutions and shows commitment from technology providers to support the green movement,” Partono further explained.

To motivate organization in Indonesia to implement the Green ICT, there are three things required. “First, from the regulatory point if view for example the Government commitment to keep the environment. Secondly, the economic aspect, can it provide an efficient and comprehensive solution for organization. Lastly, public relation, a company that cares about environment will improve their image significantly.” said Partono.

Green ICT is a conference and exhibition held at the same time that gathers information technology providers in Indonesia, both individuals and companies, to discuss issues surrounding the impact of ICT on the environment and finding solutions together to enhance energy savings, ICT negative residual substances reduction, as well as reducing the global warming impact.

Meanwhile, Director General of Telematics Applications Kemkominfo Ashwin Sasongko says that the Ministry of Communications and Information (Kemkominfo) is preparing a number of regulations create an environmentally friendly ICT.

Ashwin says, these regulations could be related to content, software, hardware and manufacturing. “We asked for input on what regulations are appropriate to support green ICT,” he said.

He says an example would be a green technology that allows electronic devices like computers, air conditioning, or lights to be switched off automatically when not in use, more environmentally friendly battery and plastic consumption, minimizing the use of electricity in ICT factories and others.

The use of environmentally friendly ICT does require substantial initial investment. However, in the long run the cost a green ICT operation would be cheaper and more efficient. (ICT-SAM)