Green and Sustainable Information Technology: A Foundation for Students

Submitted By: TomPollack
Scheduled For: Monday @ 2:00 PM in Water Oaks I
Session Type: Session - Presentation (includes keynote & business mtg)
Target Audience: Faculty and Data Center Directors

Abstract:

Seldom does a day pass in which we don't hear or read about sustainability or "going green." Environmental concerns are constantly in news headlines, and the impact of technology on our environment is significant. Large technology organizations such as Dell, HP, IBM, Sun, Hitachi, and Fujitsu have introduced green and sustainable initiatives. "Green" is generally understood to mean "friendly to the environment and energy efficient." Sustainable implies planning and investing in a technology infrastructure that serves the needs of today as well as the needs of tomorrow while conserving resources and saving money. Organizations are quite concerned with environmental issues, but they have also come to realize that sustainable business practices can significantly enhance the bottom line.

This paper will discuss the features of green and sustainable information technology practices, and suggest a basic knowledge foundation that will serve our future technology professionals.

Presenter Bio: Tom Pollack serves as an Associate Dean in the Business School at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh. He is also a professor in the Information Systems Management area. One of his administrative responsibilites is the Business School's Technology Center consisting of over 200 computers and many software packages. Tom has been a long-time ASCUE attendee and has served as Treasurer since 1990.