Sustainable IT: Leveraging IT
for Sustainability
Khuloud Odeh, CIO
CHF International
kodeh@chfinternational.org
kodeh@gmu.edu
April 21st 2009
SIM Capital Area Chapter, Evening Session
Bethesda, MD

Sustainable Development
• \"Sustainable development is development
that meets the needs of the present
without compromising the ability of future
generations to meet their own needs (World
Commission on Environment and Development 1987, 43, Brundtland)”.

Sustainability Challenges
Funnel Metaphor by Dr Karl-Henrik Robèrt
The natural Step International
4 System conditions violations: The Natural Step International
http://www.naturalstep.org

Green IT: Environmentally
Sustainable IT
Gartner 2008, hype cycle for Emerging technologies

Sustainability
• Climate Change • Sustainable Development
• Going Green
• Pollution
• CSR
• Resources depletion
• Triple Bottom Line
• Species extinction
• Ecological
• Poverty and increased gap • Environmental Stewardship
between the haves and have • Sustainability
not's
• …and the list goes on
Sustainability / Green: Values/ Culture
Sustainable Development: Process

Sustainable ICT
Sustainable ICT
“ the study and practice of designing, manufacturing,
using, and disposing of computers, servers, and
associated subsystems efficiently and effectively
with minimal or no impact on the environment, and
achieving economic viability and improved system
performance and use, while abiding by our social
and ethical responsibilities” (Murugesan, S., Harnessing Green
IT: Principles and Practices article, IEEE, IT professional, February 2008)

Challenges = Opportunities
• To be innovative
• To rethink the status quo
• To strategize
– interlink , inter-operate , inter-connect, inter-relate,
and take a whole-systems approach instead of
partial
– Keep the future in mind while living and acting in
today (backcast)
– Prioritize what to do in the short-, mid- and long-
term

Sustainable ICT
• ICT sector contribution to GHGs is 2% - close to the
aviation industry (Gartner)
• Beyond the 2%
– Direct (making IT)
– Indirect (using IT)
– Systemic (applying IT)
• Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) language.
• Forum for the Future - Digital Futures, Digital Europe, Connected report (ICT and sustainable
Development)
• WWF and European Telecommunications Network Operators’ Association (ETNO) initiative
• Saving The Climate @ The Speed Of Light campaign

Direct Impact – making IT
• 1.83 tons of raw materials
• 3Rs, or maybe
• 240 kilos of fossil fuels, 22
kilos of chemicals and 1,500
4, or 5:
kilos of water
• 220 pounds of mine waste
Reduce,
to source the gold in a
single circuit board around
Reuse,
• The average computer chip
requires 45.46 liters of
Recycle, and
water, used primarily for
washing
Rethink and
• Hazardous material
Regulate
Sources( UN University study 2004;
Earthworks
Recyclemycellphone.com 2006;
Fuchs,C.)

Indirect Impact – using IT
Source: Atlantic Consulting and IPU. LCA Study )
• Smart networks, power saving features and designs,
standby
• data center power and cooling, virtualization
• Use of renewable electricity
• Adopting universal standards

Systemic Impact – applying IT
• The biggest win is in applying IT in other
sectors( like Buildings, energy, and
transport).
• Applying ICT affects the way we live,
work, travel, shop, meet and influence
policies.
• Leveraging IT for sustainability

Systemic Impact – applying IT
• Improve environmental efficiency: reduce reliance on
goods and products, Heat management systems,
smart grid, smart buildings and transport
(smart2020.org)
• Web 2.0 and social networking empowering
communities around the world
• Pervasive computing and the power of connectivity:
RFID, real-time information and integrated solutions
• Work: job creation and economic growth, new business
models (low carbon economy is a service-base
economy), telework
• Transport and Travel: reduce need to travel (tele-
presence), traffic monitoring (GPS), efficient freight and
smarter more attractive public transportation options

Gartner 2008, Going Green: The CIO’s role in enterprise wide environmental sustainability

The Impact of Recession on Green IT: Survey Results
Source: Gartner 2009, Impact on priority given to green IT

Source: Gartner 2009 Impact on expenditure allocated to green IT projects

Gartner 2009, likelihood of starting green IT initiatives

The ‘Ecological Crisis of Reason’
• Much of what we thought before about how to
get along in our human societies (study of
economy, political , society) is obsolete today.
• For thousands of years the principal
purpose of science was to master
Nature, now we are not masters of
nature but partners with nature in a
mutual survival project.
Source: Val Plumwood, Australian Philosopher