LONDON, ENGLAND – August 4, 2009 – As more IT managers seek
ways to reduce the carbon footprint of their organizations, many
are evaluating the myriad of both new and existing green
technologies. Sparxent Corporation, through its Verismic Software
subsidiary, offers five recommendations to help IT professionals
avoid the hype of ‘greenwashing’ and identify promising
technologies that can have a positive environmental impact.
Sparxent’s recommendations include looking for green solutions
which meet the following criteria:
- Measurable eco-benefits. A number of technologies
promise a reduction in CO2 emissions or other green benefits,
but customers often have no way to actually measure the result.
In any new market, there are vendors willing to ride the hype
and promise benefits that are hard to quantify after
implementation. Before making a purchasing decision, don’t just
rely on vendor estimates. Be sure to ask the vendor how the
actual benefits will be measured and how you will be able to
demonstrate your investment return.
- Simple to configure and manage. IT managers are
acutely aware of the need to keep administration overhead costs
low and green solutions should be no exception. Some green
technologies can help reduce an organization’s carbon footprint,
but require extensive resources to manage. IT professionals
should delve past the presentation layers to identify
technologies that are simple to configure and maintain over
time, as well as those which will be most compatible with the
existing infrastructure. The best solutions are often designed
with automated management features built into the product.
- Purpose-built versus peripheral add-ons. Solutions
designed and built from the ground up with the goal of reducing
an environmental impact often perform at a higher level than
products with green components added as an afterthought. If a
solution claims to address a number of pain points for IT -
including a reduced carbon footprint – buyers should be
suspicious. Field experience confirms that environmental
considerations should be the primary factors in product
development to ensure quality.
- Technology versus vendor. Because this is an emerging
new market, solutions and their performance differ vastly
between vendors. IT managers should carefully evaluate the
technology itself, understanding there are many innovative
solutions new to the market which can help them achieve their
eco-goals. Early innovations often come from smaller, nimble
entrants to the market since established may be more complacent
or approach with green technology as an afterthought.
- Existing products relabeled as “green.” There are
many technologies which have been on the market for some time
which are now being marketed as green solutions (for example,
teleconferencing.) These repackaged technologies were developed
to solve other problems and are not truly designed to bring the
most value to the overall goal of reducing carbon footprint.
While these products may provide benefits, they are often more
market-friendly than eco-friendly.
“The green IT industry has exploded in recent years and
navigating these waters has become increasingly complex for IT
professionals who are concerned about reducing carbon emissions,”
said Mark McGinn, managing director at Verismic. “We believe every
vendor should ensure their products truly deliver both tangible
and measureable benefits for the environment before they carry the
green label. In addition, customers should be savvy in their
selection criteria to maximize their eco-investments and avoid
being ‘greenwashed’.”
Verismic Software is a wholly-owned Sparxent company, focused on
developing solutions to extend systems management and service desk
capabilities, including power management. Today, one billion PCs
are in use worldwide, and Verismic estimates they emit the
equivalent level of green house gases as 72 million cars on the
road. Power management is the easiest way to lessen these CO2
emissions and Verismic is a proven leader in this market.
About Sparxent
Sparxent is a leading technology and business solution
provider focused exclusively on the middle market. By combining
global best-of-breed capabilities with hands-on local
professionals, Sparxent is a comprehensive and single source for
IT consulting, software and services.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Karl F. Stetson
Edelman
206-268-2215
Karl.Stetson@edelman.com
For more information, please contact Charlotte Lewis
Tel: 949.222.2287 Fax: 949.222.222
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