This document discusses green ICT practices at educational institutions in Maharashtra, India. It begins with background on the growth of ICT usage and resulting environmental impacts. It then reviews concepts of green ICT and the Maharashtra government's green IT policy. The paper analyzes green ICT practices implemented at educational institutions in Maharashtra, such as IT equipment recycling, printer consolidation, and power management. It finds benefits include reduced energy costs, smaller carbon footprint and hazardous waste, and compliance with regulations. The document concludes green ICT can help educational institutions operate sustainably while saving costs and resources.

1. International Journal of Advanced Research in Engineering and Technology (IJARET), ISSN IN –
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ADVANCED RESEARCH 0976
6480(Print), ISSN 0976 – 6499(Online) Volume 4, Issue 6, September – October (2013), © IAEME
ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (IJARET)
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ISSN 0976 - 6480 (Print)
ISSN 0976 - 6499 (Online)
Volume 4, Issue 6, September – October 2013, pp. 216-221
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EVOLUTION OF GREEN ICT IMPLEMENTATION AT EDUCATION
INSTITUTIONS STUDY WITH REFERENCE TO MAHARASHTRA
Kavita Suryawanshi
Dr. D.Y.Patil Institute of MCA
University of Pune
Pune, Maharashtra, India
Sameer Narkhede
School of Management Studies
North Maharashtra University
Jalgaon, Maharashtra, India
Kumar Nirmala
ASM’s IBMR
University of Pune
Pune, Maharashtra, India
ABSTRACT
Green ICT is ICT related to the environment protection, preservation and creating green
environment. The Maharashtra is one of the states in India to focus on the environmental
sustainability. The Maharashtra public sector including educational institutions and private sector
including IT/BPO industry is implementing Green or eco sustainable ICT. This paper analyzes the
need of green ICT as well as green ICT practices at education institution. The study presents the
benefits to educational institutes for going green information and communication technology based
on data collected from survey of various websites of educational institutions and interviews of
Directors/Deans from various institutions selected by convenience sampling technique.
Keywords: Information and Communication Technology (ICT); Green ICT; Education Institution;
Green ICT Practices.
I. INTRODUCTION
The growing boom of ICTs in India today is also simultaneously witnessing a growing impact
on the environment and climate change. All professional institutes need to satisfy AICTE norms;
Number of PCs to Student ratio should be 1:2 i.e. 30 PCs, Legal System Software 03, Legal
Application Software 20, All PCs should be in LAN, Mail server and client, Minimum 02 internet
connections of 2 MBPS and 10 % of printers in laboratory i.e. 03; as well as need to apply for
National Board of Accreditation in Maharashtra when establishing new course or running existing
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course. The institutions where computer and IT related courses are conducted are considered as a
professional Institute with yearly intake of 60 students for (Master of Computer Applications) MCA
Course. According to AICTE norms each Institute requires a Computer Lab of 30 Computers with
latest configuration. These computers become outdated after three years because at that time “Latest
Configuration” will be different (AICTE manual) .So that most of the institutes attempt to write-off
these computers which lead generation of e-waste. Maharashtra ranks first in India which generates
more than 60% of the total e-waste generated from use of ICT in India [2].
Currently biggest challenge facing the environment is global warming caused by carbon
emission. It is very much necessary to save the environment and ultimately the earth .Use of ICT in
education is a cause of carbon dioxide emission, high energy consumption and hazardous waste
production. These pressure led education institutions to adopt Green ICT so as to minimize energy
consumption, carbon footprint, ICT waste and to maximize recycling & reuse and to reduce energy
cost. Moreover savings can be achieved by minimizing the wastage of computational facility. With
the increase in the number of institutions offering higher education, green ICT implementation at
institutions has become key ingredient to achieve cost effective solutions and corporate social
responsibility. The universities and colleges has to adopt more sustainable approaches to ICT use.
The pressure should be enforced from Maharashtra government, from external stakeholders and the
public who are increasingly aware of the environmental and energy cost.
Based on these observations, following questions arise:
- What are the current Green ICT practices followed by educational institutions?
- What are the benefits of Green ICT implementation to educational institutions?
This paper reviews the literature available on Green ICT. The structure of paper is as follows.
Initially, the Researchers reviewed Maharashtra government’s Green IT policy and Green ICT
concepts. Secondly the Researchers have presented the green ICT practices to be followed by
educational institution. A discussion on the analysis of benefits of green ICT implementation to
education institutions is followed by a conclusion.
II. LITERATURE REVIEW
India possesses a highly developed higher education system. In its size and diversity, India
has the third largest higher education system in the world, next only to China and United States
(MHRD Annual Report). US Energy Information Administration publishes international energy
statistics reveals that India is now the world’s third biggest emitter of Co2 (carbon dioxide) [4]. In
general, the carbon footprint of the ICT can be measured in terms of electricity usage, paper and
printing costs, equipment recycling and disposal costs.
A. Maharashtra Government Policy
The state of Maharashtra has emerged as a key hub for ICT, electronics, and in the captive
business outsourcing industries. Maharashtra is the largest market for IT hardware and internet in
India. IT continues to transform daily life for the better. It has become necessary to address the
environmental consequences of the rapid increase in IT users. Maharashtra IT/ITES Policy-2009 will
be valid up to 14th August, 2014. The Policy proposes path breaking initiatives to promote ‘green’ IT
and electronic hardware, as well as e-waste recycling (MH IT/ITES policy 2009).
B. Green ICT
Advances in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) over the past few years
shown an exponential growth in technology and its global presence. Hence, there is need for solutions
to optimize energy consumption in the ICT sector. Such solutions are collectively referred to as Green
ICT (vineetha paruchuri, 2009).
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Keiichi Nakata extends the existing definitions of Green ICT, as a coordination and
convergence of strategy, practice and measurement of Green ICT which addresses environmentally
sustainability. Green ICT aims to minimize carbon footprint, minimize hazardous ICT waste, reduce
energy cost, achieve corporate social responsibility (CSR), and finally comply with regulations
(Supaporn Chai, 2011).
Green or eco-sustainability is the ability of one or more entities, either individually or
collectively, to exist and thrive (either unchanged or in evolved forms) for lengthy time frames, in
such manner that the existence and flourishing of other collectivities of entities is permitted at related
levels and in related systems (Molla A., Vanessa C,2008).
This study summarizes and extends the existing definitions as follow. Green ICT consists of
policies and practices that deal with environmental sustainability and achieve corporate social
responsibility by minimizing carbon footprint, ICT waste and by optimizing energy consumption and
natural resources.
III. GREEN ICT AT EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTES
There is expanding pressure on schools and universities to embrace more economical
methodologies to ICT utilization. This force need to originate from government, from outer
stakeholders and general society who are eager to get degrees at the natural expense. As of late
greatest challenge confronting nature's domain is a global warming via carbon emission. It is truly
essential to recover nature and at last the earth .Use of ICT in education is an explanation for carbon
dioxide emission, high energy utilization and unsafe waste generation. These pressures made
educational organizations to embrace Green ICT in order to minimize energy utilization, carbon
footprint, ICT waste, to boost recycling & reuse and to diminish energy cost, besides environment
could be realize by minimizing the wastage of computational facility. With the increment in the
amount of education institutions offering professional education, green ICT usage at establishments
has come to be key part to attain cost effective solutions.
Green ICT has a part of advancement in administering ICT recognized with the sustainability,
Researchers intends to focus why education institutions need to give careful consideration to green
ICT by inspecting three sorts of demands : environmental, social and economic.
C. Green ICT and Environmental Demands
For the most part, Green ICT issues are spoken in natural terms because of the effect of ICT on
nature's domain. ICT results into carbon dioxide emanations, high energy utilization, creation of
hazardous e-waste, which is dangerous for people and the earth. Concerning higher education
systems, the learners and staff have expanded the amount of ICT utilized as a part of their regular life.
Appropriately, these forces dependent upon these evaluations regulate education institutions to adopt
Green ICT in order to minimize energy utilization, carbon footprint, ICT waste, and to expand
reusing, refurbishing and reuse. Every living person may as well come to be Green ICT pioneer for
social change and saving mankinds from natural contamination.
D. Green ICT and Social Demands
ICT has social effects which are both granted and unconvinced. Regardless of the possibility that
Green ICT is ordinarily approached scientific, technical and environmental points of view, a thought
of social challenge ought to be tended to as far as education institute. Green ICT works to attain social
viewpoints which are identified with Corporate Social Responsibility. Therefore Green ICT helps
education organizations to realize social profits like enhanced image, higher reputation and
trustworthiness.
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E. Green ICT and Economic Demands
ICT has straight influenced cost related expense incorporating utilities and support &
operation cost, which build each year. The energy utilization of India ICT infrastructure is estimated
to expand by 30% to in excess of 31 trillion-watt hours by 2014, an investigation of Global research
firm Gartner. Green ICT proposes to utilize energy effective supplies and diminish energy cost. In that
capacity, Green ICT in education institutions can additionally address budgetary requests through
expense adequacy and best asset use.
IV. ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION
The responses from interviews of selected directors/deans from various institutions were
analyzed. The analysis of Green ICT practices and benefits are discussed in this section are based on
the data collected from survey of various websites of educational institutions and interviews of
selected directors/deans from various institutions.
F. Green ICT Practices
With the increasing awareness of environmental issues around the world, institutions are
turning to green ICT initiatives more and more. Not only are there significant environmental benefits
to these initiatives, but they can also yield substantial business benefits. Green ICT also encourages
and supports Greener behavior by the faculties, staff members, students and admin people. By
various means, including awareness campaigns and ongoing education, and in some cases legislation,
the whole culture of education institutions can be changed. Riaz, M.T., Gutierrez, J.M., Pedersen J.M.
(2009) have provided a survey of the challenges faced today of global warming by CO2 emission
related in global ICT infrastructure. In their paper (2009) they have provided a number of strategies
for greening ICT lead by discussion and overall analysis.
Finally, by implementing a Green ICT, education institutions can ensure the sustainability of
the IT resources. The researchers have investigated the ways in which educational institutes can
reduce, reuse and recycle infrastructure. The green ICT practices to be followed by education
institutions to achieve cost effective solution along with green reasoning are as follows:
1) IT Equipment Recycling
This practice reduces carbon footprint through proper disposal of hardware and its hazardous
components.
2) Printer Consolidation & Reduction
This practice reduces the consumption of paper, ink, toner, energy, and hazardous material from
printer devices and cartridges.
3) End-User Device Power Management (PCs, monitors )
This practice reduces the consumption of energy during extended idle times, overnights, etc. and PC
Power Management was monitored.
4) Telecommuting Capabilities & Strategies
This practice reduces carbon emissions from employee commuting activities.
5) Use of Thin Client Model was established
This practice reduces energy consumption and hardware footprint.
6) IT Energy Measurement Tools & Techniques
This practice reduces future energy consumption by setting baselines, understanding organizational
energy use, working towards reduction and improvement. Energy Star /EPEAT Rating hardware were
purchased.
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G. Benefits of GICT to Education Institution
The main motivation for implementing Green ICT is to reduce costs. Actions to minimize the
environmental impacts of ICT use can help the education institutions in some of the benefits
appealing to all stake holder groups: faculty, student and staff satisfaction increases, the institute
image improves in the society. Some of the benefits which are mentioned below:
Reduce energy cost
GICT study is beneficial for reduction in environmental impact and power bill which is very
essential for future sustainability. By following simple methods of reducing power consumption like
Power-down the CPU and all peripherals during the periods of inactivity and so on, each institution
can reduce energy cost and ultimately contribute towards sustainable earth.
2) Minimize carbon footprint, hazardous ICT waste:
The ICT generates large amount of hazardous waste. Hazardous ICT waste not only has impacts on
people’s health but also consumes space in a landfill .Examples of reducing ICT wastes are recyclable
or reusable equipment which can extend the ICT lifecycle equipment. Therefore, institutions need to
minimize hazardous ICT waste, which is one of the objectives of Green ICT. GICT study is beneficial
for reduction in environmental impact and cost saving which is very essential for future sustainability.
3) Comply with regulation
The institute can comply with the environmental laws, protocols for sustainability by way of
reducing e-waste, providing healthy environment, minimizing power bill. Being environment friendly
is good for the overall geo-economic condition. There is no negative effect of adopting Green ICT
practices, therefore no regrets. It saves the resource of the country as a whole. It is now high time
people should start saving fuel sources and energy for the future generations along with saving money
and assets for them.
4) Sustenance of ICT
The Government sets targets for carbon emissions and other environmental impacts which require
strict regulations. Institutions should comply with the regulatory standards for ICT procurement,
procedures, ICT waste, ICT-related aspects of buildings, etc. Green ICT implementation will ensure
that Natural resources are conserved and are available for our next generation to continue a way of life
that is environment friendly.
1)
V. CONCLUSION
This paper examined Green ICT concepts and has provided the explanation why educational
institutions need to give careful consideration to Green ICT and also reviewed Maharashtra
government Green IT policy. This paper has also discussed the green ICT practices to be followed by
educational institution. Regardless of the practices, the factors that most significantly determine the
success of green ICT would be motivation and rationale for adoption of GICT, urgency to comply
with environmental laws and policies, support from top management and stakeholder.
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