Even greener IT. Bringing green theory and “green IT” together, or why concern about greenhouse gasses is only a starting point
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/14779961111158702 |
| Pages | 68-82 |
| Date | 17 May 2011 |
| Published date | 17 May 2011 |
| Author | N. Ben Fairweather |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management |
EDITORIAL
Even greener IT
Bringing green theory and “green IT” together,
or why concern about greenhouse gasses is
only a starting point
N. Ben Fairweather
Centre for Computing & Social Responsibility,
De Montfort University, Leicester, UK
Abstract
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to look at current practices and associated consumption
patterns in information technology (IT), looking at how impacts of IT, for good and ill, will be evaluated
by green theory.
Design/methodology/approach – The paper takes an interdisciplinary approach drawing together
literatures from a variety of fields, including green theory, information systems, green economics,
computing, energy studies, cultural studies, waste management, and transport research.
Findings – Feedback effects that cause early replacement of software and hardware form a complex,
environmentally harmful, vicious circle that can appropriately be called “the upgrade treadmill”.
Considering wider impacts of IT suggests that imperatives to renovate, rather than replace, hardware
are stronger than narrower considerations of “green IT” would suggest, and there is a responsibility
on those involved in the academic disciplines associated with training future IT professionals to try
to work against the “upgrade treadmill”.
Originality/value – This paper is novel in exposing green IT to green theory. In doing so, it seeks to
move consideration of green IT onto a more rounded basis.
Keywords Communicationtechnologies, Global warming, Consumerbehaviour
Paper type Literature review
Introduction
There has been an awareness for well over a decade that the environmental impacts of
computing and information technology (IT)[1] are significant (Fairweather, 1998,
pp. 127-8). It has taken quite some time, though, for this to get any widespread
acknowledgement.In the meantime, vast numbersof computers have been manufactured
and used, each with its attendant environmental consequences. There has been a
considerableincrease in thenumber of IT devices possessedby the well-to-do in therichest
parts of the world (or provided by employers for their exclusive use). IT devices have
achieved a remarkable penetration across the less-industrialised parts of the world.
Meanwhile, there is reason to think that “In the computer industry [...] life cycles are
getting shorter” (Kawa and Golinska, 2010, p. 292). As this process has gone on,
magnifying the environmental impacts of IT, more people have become aware of those
environmentalimpacts of IT. Concern about greenhousegas (GHG) emissions has moved
from being a matter for activists and the scientifically literate through to being a real
concern for the bulk of large-scale businesses and organisations in the industrialised
world. Thus, we have reached a situation where many large-scale organisations are
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at
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JICES
9,2
68
Journal of Information,
Communication & Ethics in Society
Vol. 9 No. 2, 2011
pp. 68-82
qEmerald Group Publishing Limited
1477-996X
DOI 10.1108/14779961111158702
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