[LINK] Web to cut ICT greenhouse gas emissions by 50%

[Tom Worthington]

The new draft of my advice for the Australian Environment Department 
on reducing energy use of PCs and monitors in Australia is available 
at: <http://www.tomw.net.au/technology/it/pcmees/>. This recommends: 
50% ICT energy reduction target by 2020, voluntary use of Energy Star 
by industry and mandatory use by Government, plus web education 
programs. I have tidied up the format to make it a bit clearer.

Also in writing the answer to an assignment question for my ANU 
students 
<http://cs.anu.edu.au/Student/comp3410/assignments/ass1/comp3410/assignment-1.html>I 
found a scheme for web based environmental labels using Microformats 
<http://microformats.org/wiki/rel-ecolabel>. I will include it in the 
next version of the report.

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The purpose of this document is to propose a strategy for the 
Australian ICT industry, in conjunction with government, to improve 
the energy efficiency of PCs and Monitors in Australia.

This strategy proposes voluntary use of the US EPA Energy Star 
program by the Australian ICT industry and web based industry and 
consumer education programs on energy efficiency. It is proposed that 
Australian federal and state governments encourage this voluntary 
program by government purchasing Energy Star products and by 
government using the web based information in product selection. 
While the program would be voluntary, those companies which did not 
offer Energy Star rated products and did not provide details of them 
on the web would be excluded from government tenders.

It is proposed that industry work with government on consumer and 
professional education on sustainability, using the Internet as a 
delivery mechanism. International initiatives on ICT energy 
efficiency should be encouraged in Australia, along with locally 
developed programs. A government sponsored free e-learning package 
for universities and professional bodies to train ICT professionals 
in sustainability is proposed.

It is proposed that Australia set a target of a 50% reduction of 
greenhouse gas emissions from ICT by 2020. This will contribute a 1% 
overall reduction in Australia's greenhouse gas emissions.
Measures:

1. VOLUNTARY ENERGY STAR STANDARD FOR INDUSTRY: Adopt the US Energy 
Star Program as voluntary standard for efficient PCs and monitors.

2. STANDARD WEB FORMAT FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PRODUCT DATA: Develop a 
standard format to display energy efficiency data and other 
environmental data on the web, suitable for both consumers and 
corporate users. In Australia. Propose the format as an international standard.

3. MANDATORY ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT: Require 
Energy Star conformance for federal government procurement and for 
federally funded programs, such as computers in schools. Use a 
simplified version of US Government procedures. Require energy 
efficiency product specifications to be on the web in the standard format.

4. PROMOTION AND MARKET INFORMATION, FINDING SHARED INCENTIVES: 
Promote and support professionals and businesses who promote energy 
saving to consumers. Invite international consortia to expand their 
programs to Australia. Provide resources for local branches of 
consortia to adapt their programs to Australian conditions. Encourage 
the ICT industry to support local initiatives.

5. AUDIT ICT ENERGY USE ANNUALLY: Demonstrate the efficacy of ICT 
energy saving by regular audits of ICT energy use. Develop an annual 
ICT energy audit, broadly based on the ACS/Ethan Group 2007 report methodology.

6. DEVELOP SUSTAINABLE ICT E-LEARNING MODULES: Sponsor a free 
e-learning package for universities and professional bodies to train 
ICT professionals in sustainability. Focus the content on energy 
efficiency and draw on case studies of real world energy saving projects.
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From: Executive Summary, The Personal Computer and Monitors Energy 
Efficiency Strategy, Report and Recommended Plan of Action, Tom 
Worthington, Preliminary Draft 0.2 of 12 September 2008 
<http://www.tomw.net.au/technology/it/pcmees/pc-report-02.html>.



Tom Worthington FACS HLM tom.worthington at tomw.net.au Ph: 0419 496150
Director, Tomw Communications Pty Ltd            ABN: 17 088 714 309
PO Box 13, Belconnen ACT 2617                      http://www.tomw.net.au/
Adjunct Senior Lecturer, Australian National University