Green ICT Quick Wins
The Australian Government Information Management Office (AGIMO) within the Department of Finance and Deregulation (Finance), in conjunction with the Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA) has developed a list of Green ICT Quick Wins based on the best practices already adopted by some agencies and the private sector. The list was endorsed by the Chief Information Officer Committee (CIOC) on 7 April 2009.
By implementing the Green ICT Quick Wins, agencies can quickly attain energy efficiency savings and build momentum for whole-of-government green initiatives.
Supporting Documentation
A Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page has been developed to help answer queries about the Green Initiatives.
List of Green ICT Quick Wins
High priority options
Black screens or static screen savers instead of active screensavers.
Agencies should replace active or animated screensavers with more energy efficient alternatives such as black screens or static image screensavers.
A monitor left running with an active screen saver needlessly consumes the same amount of energy as when the screen is in full use. Animated screen saver programs may also require processing activity that can result in additional energy consumption.
A blank or static screen saver is slightly better, but setting screens to enter sleep mode (black screens) after five minutes of inactivity will maximise power savings.
Automatic shutdown of desktop and laptop fleet after hours.
Agencies should implement desktop workstation power management solutions that enable all desktop and laptop computers to be shut down when not in use outside of standard work hours.
Agencies that shutdown desktop workstations overnight have reported significant savings from this initiative.
- Defence has realised savings of over $5 million per annum in power usage. This equates to an estimated 31,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide entering the earth’s atmosphere each year.
- ABS estimates that it has realised savings of up to $50,000 per annum.
- Medicare Australia has saved $237,000 per annum. [1]
There is potential for even more substantial savings and improved environmental performance from the wider adoption of this simple, cost effective initiative.
To facilitate wider adoption, a desktop workstation power management solution developed by the Department of Defence is freely available to all Australian federal, state and territory government agencies for automatic shutdown of their desktop workstation fleet.
To request access to this solution please send an email containing your name and contact details to GreenICT@finance.gov.au. [2]
Encourage agencies to measure power consumption of ICT as a component of total power use.
Agencies should implement initiatives that enable the measurement of power consumption of ICT as a component of total power use.
Agencies have implemented this initiative by purchasing a number of simple electricity meters or watt meters and installing them between the hardware being measured and the power supply.
Hardware metering should be accomplished on a representative sample group during normal business hours over a set period. The findings from this method of energy metering will indicate power consumption on a per device scale, which can then be applied across total device numbers to provide an agency-wide result.
This is an important step towards establishing a baseline from which to measure further environmental efficiencies in ICT energy use.
Medium Priority Options
Encourage tools and practices to assist employees reduce the number of printed pages per employee per month.
In its 2008-09 Audit Report Green Office Procurement and Sustainable Office Management [
], the Australian National Audit Office reported that Australian Government agencies use just over 18 reams of paper per person per annum.
Agencies are encouraged to implement a range of measures to reduce the environmental impact of printing practices. These measures include:
- use of recycled paper containing a high percentage of recycled fibre and/or made with virgin fibre content obtained from sustainable managed sources
- adopt double sided (duplex) printing as the default printer setting
- replace distributed desktop printers with centralised multi-function devices (MFDs)
- adopt Eco Font [] as the default printer font setting
- adopt printer density settings as default (toner save mode or econo mode)
- consider Printing Intelligence / Output Management Capabilities as a requirement in all Request for Tender (RFT) documentation when undertaking a printer refresh
DEWHA provides supporting guidance for printers [] and paper [] on its website.
In April, 2009 the Attorney-General’s Department (AGD) introduced a secure print environment in its new office in Canberra.
In the new location, printing devices were rationalised. The latest model devices (which have lower energy consumption) are housed in two shared utility rooms on each floor. This strategy resulted in a significant reduction in the number of devices.
| Before rationalisation | After rationalisation |
|---|---|
| 167 Laser Printers | 64 monochrome printers (A4 black & white, duplex printing) |
| 53 MFDs / Copiers | 32 MFDs (A4, A3 colour, duplex printing, scanning enabled) |
| 28 Scanners | |
| 48 facsimile machines | 16 facsimile machines |
| 60 label printers | 16 label printers |
AGD also implemented output management capabilities. Staff now access their documents at any available printer by authenticating themselves using their building access swipe cards. Any print jobs not accessed within 24 hours are automatically purged, reducing waste.
This solution has increased security, reduced power consumption and reduced the waste of paper and toner. In addition to improving environmental efficiency, AGD estimates that this initiative will reduce annual costs by approximately 30%.
Include green ICT requirements in all agencies ICT RFT documentation:
Require prospective suppliers to detail energy use information for their proposed solution in RFT responses.
The following ICT services provisions have been used by DEWHA in their RFT and subsequent contract processes.
RFTs can incorporate the following requirements of Tenderers:
-
Indicate whether the proposed solution is registered in the Electronic Product Environment Assessment Tool [
] (EPEAT).-
If so, indicate the EPEAT level the product is registered to:
- Bronze – Product meets all required criteria;
- Silver – Product meets all required criteria plus at least 50% of the optional criteria that apply to the product type being registered; and
- Gold – Product meets all required criteria plus at least 75% of the optional criteria that apply to the product type being registered.
-
-
Supply information for power consumption (watts; where applicable) in the following modes:
- on/active mode
- sleep mode
- standby/off mode
- Provide an indication of internal power supply efficiency (if applicable) as per US ENERGY STAR® [] referenced tests.
- Provide detail (if applicable) on external power supply brand, model number and performance mark, and whether the external power supply complies with AS/NZS4665 mark III [] requirements.
- Provide a demonstration of any power management capabilities of new equipment.
- Pro-actively identify where environmental impacts can be minimised in areas including, but not limited to, power consumption, cooling requirements and e-waste disposal.
- Agree that all products supplied under the RFT process and resulting contract may be submitted by the agency for independent testing and assessment for compliance against the claimed performance (by an agency-nominated National Association of Testing Authorities [] (NATA) accredited laboratory).
- Provide evidence to substantiate claims for any item of equipment nominated in a tender at the request of the agency.
At a minimum, all products nominated by Tenderers should meet the following requirements:
- Computers (and notebooks) must comply with the requirements of the US ENERGY STAR® Program Requirements for Computers Version 4.0 test and performance specification.
- Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) and Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) monitors must comply with Tier 1 and Tier 2 respectively of the US ENERGY STAR® Program Requirements for Computer Monitors Version 4.1 test and performance specification.
- Printer and MFD (imaging) equipment must comply with the requirements of the US ENERGY STAR® Program Requirements for Imaging Equipment Version 1.0 test and performance specification (Tier 1).
- All products are to be supplied with power management features enabled.
- All tests and compliance data is required to be at 230V alternating current (AC) only.
Require prospective suppliers to indicate whether they are a signatory to the National Packaging Covenant.
The National Packaging Covenant [] is a voluntary initiative by government and industry, to reduce the effects of packaging on the environment.
Signatories to the Covenant recognise that a co-operative approach between industry and government is essential to achieving national consistency in the lifecycle management of packaging.
Encourage agencies undertaking a desktop refresh to consider replacing personal computers with more energy efficient alternatives.
Replace inefficient monitors at the end of their life cycle with more energy-efficient models (e.g. replace CRT monitors with more energy efficient alternatives).
Encourage agencies undertaking a telephone refresh to consider technologies that optimise energy use efficiency and minimise duplication of handsets per employee.
Agencies undertaking a desktop or telephone refresh are encouraged to consider replacing inefficient workstations, monitors and telecommunications equipment with more energy-efficient alternatives at the end of their life cycle.
Longer term priorities
Identify case study examples – thin client and virtualisation.
Identify energy efficiency standards.
Introduce a carbon calculator for meetings.
The longer term priorities seek to provide better practice examples and identify relevant standards and options for future development.
Areas for further exploration by agencies may include but are not limited to identification of case study examples for thin client and desktop virtualisation, identification of energy efficiency standards and investigation of a calculator to clarify the carbon footprint of meetings at the time of scheduling, particularly where air travel is involved.
References
- ^ Australian National Audit Office 2009, Audit Report 25 - Green Office Procurement and Sustainable Office Management [], Australian National Audit Office, Canberra.
Notes
- ^ The following should be noted:
- Intellectual Property for the Desktop Power Management Solution source code is held by the Commonwealth.
- In supplying the solution, Finance and Defence do not guarantee that it will function on an agency's standard computer network/standard operating environment or that ongoing development support will be available.
- Defence is unable to provide ongoing support if the original source code is modified.
Useful Links
Australian National Audit Office 2008-09 Audit Report No. 25: Green Office Procurement and Sustainable Office Management. []
Better Practice Checklist: Managing the Environmental Impact of ICT (December 2007). Department of Finance and Deregulation.
Energy Efficiency in Government Operations (EEGO) Policy (2006). Department of the Environment and Heritage. []
Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts website. []
The National Packaging Covenant website. []
Contact for information on this page: GreenICT@finance.gov.au