Leader: Why green is good for your career

The IT industry has long struggled to present a positive image to the rest of business - and now it risks being branded an eco-villain too.

Research from analyst house Gartner has found the world's IT industry churns out as much carbon dioxide as the aviation industry - with technology accounting for two per cent of the world's CO2 emissions.

Environment awareness is no longer a 'nice to have' - in addition to legislation such as the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive, it is increasingly a measure by which customers are judging the businesses they buy from.

The technology industry has often been heralded as innovative, and if CIOs could embrace technology that is ground-breaking and green then business will reap rewards on all fronts.

And there is plenty IT organisations can do - such as measuring power consumption, virtualising servers, turning off equipment after hours and reusing hardware within the enterprise and externally.

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It doesn't mean the IT crowd should become tree huggers overnight - and nor does it mean companies will find themselves severely out of pocket as a result.

CIOs should recognise that setting the green agenda and becoming a beacon of environmental entrepreneurialism within their company is a positive role to play. Be proactive about addressing how the green agenda impacts on your business, and be able to explain your stance to senior management.

Saving cash, power and the planet while giving your career a boost at the same time? Now that's energy efficient.