Supplementary memorandum submitted by
the Sustainable Development Commission
ISSUE
The general trend across government has been
for a reduction in overall energy use per m2. This has been driven
by a reduction in energy from fossil fuels used for heating; however
energy from electricity is increasing (Figure A). This has an
impact upon overall carbon emissions as electricity is more carbon
intensive than other types of fuel used for heating (eg kerosene
or gas). Therefore the increase in electricity consumption increases
the proportion of CO2 emissions per kWh of energy used (eg
grid electricity emits about twice as much carbon per kWh as kerosene,
and 2.5 times that of natural gas).
Figure A
One of the key drivers of the rise in governmental
energy usage may be the proliferation of computers, printers,
laptops, chargers, lobby televisions, mobile phones and other
Information and Communications Technology (ICT), as well as associated
impacts eg air conditioning of server rooms as well as severe
levels of waste and the disposal of old ICT (including toxic materials).
Government must address the root causes of both the energy consumption
rise and its increasing waste to encourage Industry to improve
equipment life span, eco-design and energy consumption.
GOVERNMENT'S
ICT STRATEGY (SDIG
08 RECOMMENDATION)
Whilst the existing Greening Government ICT
Strategy (launched July 2008) represents an encouraging step towards
making ICT usage more sustainable, government must consider urgently
raising the ambition level of the Strategy as industry momentum
has gathered around this Agenda. The Chief Information Officers
and Chief Technology Officers have responded well to the first
set of targets but they must now be increased. The Strategy itself
acknowledges there is a need to work with departments and industry
to explore and invest in radical green ICT solutions for the ICT
problem,[2]
but also consider issues relating to life cycle impact and disposal
of old IT hardware. Some solutions could include initiatives such
as:
— Extended procurement cycles to a mandatory
minimum of four years. Equipment replacement must be carefully
evaluated and not judged on electricity usage alone but rather
the wider CO2 output of the production, manufacturing and
full lifecycle of the equipment as stated in the Strategy.
— Reduce duplication of equipment per person.
For example, cease allowing two computers per staff member.
— Government and outsourced data centres
must adhere to the basic principles included in the European Data
Centre Code of Conduct to ensure server optimisation, the removal
of over-duplication of data, as well as sharing data centres and
using appropriate levels of ambient room temperatures in server
rooms.
— Ensure procurement of equipment at the
highest international standards as well as working with supply
chains to reduce unnecessary packaging.
— A shared pan-government video conferencing
strategy in order to provide value for money on shared equipment
and public purse investment.
— Increase the amount of renewable energy
sourced for electricity, thereby reducing the carbon emissions
produced by the increased electricity consumption due to the proliferation
of ICT.
GREEN ICT SCORECARD
AND ROADMAP
Government is developing a Green ICT Scorecard
to help organizations address their environmental responsibilities
while maintaining or improving ICT costs and service levels.
The Green ICT Scorecard is used to collect and
compare data across three dimensions—how green issues impact
business and customers, how ICT contributes to the corporate policies,
and what ICT is doing both directly & indirectly to reduce
the carbon footprint of the organisation through energy and waste
management efficiencies.
The results of the Green ICT Scorecard make
it possible to highlight areas where ICT resources and effort
may be redeployed to support the organisation's environmental
objectives. It is a method for CIOs to help develop roadmaps and
obtain a consistent baseline & measure of improvements over
time.
A proposed CIO Roadmap is to be published in
July 2009. This is set to announce 18 key actions for departments
as well as track progress and the commitment of each organisation
against these actions.
The SDC welcomes the initiative and would like
to see a clear link between the roadmap and the Strategy to ensure
efforts toward improving the sustainability benefits of ICT are
maximised.
ICT AND MOBILITY
The use of ICT in transport is a huge subject
and covers a much broader scope than purely improving the sustainability
of transport. Large numbers of projects have been running over
many years. Projects have focused on such things as improving
the driver experience; safety; reducing congestion; and making
public transport more attractive.
There are six key areas in which ICT can improve
the sustainability of transport:
1. Reduce the demand for travel—Includes
systems for travel avoidance such as video-conferencing and tele-presence
systems, net meetings, facilities to enable home or remote working
(including work hubs), shopping ordered from and delivered to
your home, and even synthetic environments such as "Second
Life".
2. Influence travel mode choice—This
can be done in a number of ways:
— Offer advice on the best way to travel
by a particular mode—eg walking and cycling route planners,
websites with public transport information, advanced ticket purchasing
etc.
— Plan routes and compare alternative modes
of travel for a journey—eg www.transportdirect.info—allows
users to compare the time taken and environmental impact of different
mode choices. http://www.travelfootprint.org/gives more detail
on lifecycle environmental impacts of journeys.
— Provide updates on traffic conditions,
service cancellations or delays—eg Transport for London
text updates for London Underground, or Highways Agency's website
providing real time and predicted traffic conditions.
3. Change driver behaviour—eg speed
cameras, SatNav systems that use predicted or real-time congestion
information for route planning, pay-as-you-go car insurance emphasising
the marginal costs of driving, eco-driving feedback—eg Fiat's
eco:drive system which teaches you how to drive more efficiently.
4. Change vehicle behaviour—automatic/intelligent
speed adaptation, personal rapid transit systems—driverless
vehicles, automated vehicle diagnostics to ensure optimum efficiency
eg tyre pressure monitoring, engine efficiency monitoring
5. Increase efficiency of vehicle utilisation—Liftsharing
(www.liftshare.com) to increase vehicle occupancy rates, demand
responsive public transport, car clubs, bike rental schemes etc.
6. Improve network efficiency—congestion
charging/road pricing, parking management, real-time traffic management,
(eg phased traffic light systems)
GLOBAL ACTION
PLAN—GREEN
ICT RESEARCH
The independent environment charity, Global
Action Plan, is currently undertaking a piece of research looking
at the role of ICT in the public sector to help combat dangerous
climate change.
Their report, which the SDC fed into, is due
to be published shortly. The EAC may wish to get in touch with
Global Action Plan to establish a useful connection regarding
this issue. The main contact is:
3 June 2009
2 pg. 7, Cabinet Office, Greening Government ICT: Efficient,
Sustainable, Responsible, July 2008 Back
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