Technology and Sustainability Go Hand in Hand

There is an intimate connection between technology and sustainability as far as small businesses are concerned. The conclusion was presented via a KRC Research survey commissioned by Microsoft. The Redmond giant revealed that for small businesses, deploying green IT solutions is a move which would result in cutting down on costs. Microsoft indicated that no less than 60% of the small businesses surveyed had embraced sustainable technologies in order to deliver an ecological contribution but also to save money.

“Technology can play a significant role in helping businesses lower their impact on the environment,” explained Francois Ajenstat, director of environmental sustainability at Microsoft. “Microsoft helps by reducing the energy consumption of technology, helping manage environment footprint and rethinking business practices. This enables organizations to improve both their bottom line and the sustainability of their operations.”

For no less than 94% of the 250 companies that participated in the survey, making their business practices environmentally friendly is a strategy synonymous with the implementation of green technology. Microsoft's survey also emphasized the fact that environmentally friendly practices are becoming a priority for the vast majority of small businesses.

In this context, the Redmond giant applauded its own solutions as the right choices when it comes down to going green. Microsoft pointed out that Office Live, Windows Mobile, Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 all permit employees to take their work home and reduce power consumption costs while cutting carbon emissions.

Microsoft added that “the survey results highlight sustainable practices that small-business decision-makers believe represent the most savings potential for their business including the following:

• Setting up standards to manage power consumption for computers, such as setting computers or monitors to sleep mode after a period of not being used (28 percent)
• Allowing employees to telecommute (26 percent)
• Upgrading server infrastructure with the most energy-efficient technology available (16 percent)
• Using mobile technology (15 percent)
• Conducting live meetings that share resources over the Web such as presentations (14 percent)”.