Going green through IT

Though much of the hype surrounding environmentally friendly work spaces died down when the economic recession hit, the notion is important and one that many companies are still steadily -- albeit more quietly -- working toward.

There are a multitude of ways that businesses can improve environmental sustainability, and one of the most apparent is in IT practices.

By now, everyone is aware that powering down a desktop or laptop computer when away from one's desk for an extended period can reduce energy consumption. Using energy-efficient equipment, such as monitors and power supplies that consume less electricity and produce less heat, are additional steps a company can take to improve its power management practices.

For those looking to go beyond the basics, investments in cloud computing and virtualization can take environmental efforts one step further. By deploying IT solutions in the cloud, a company can reduce its reliance on physical servers to support its network.

Many businesses find that efforts to go green can improve more than sustainability practices. A company's reputation can also benefit, as many consumers are attracted to environmentally conscious businesses. If nothing else, a company can reduce its energy costs by thinking green.