Indicating the Green : Defining and measuring Green IT

Abstract: Introduction In our Bachelor’s thesis we wrote about the advantages, risks, strategies and methods useful when working with Green IT. But there still were difficulties delimiting the field of Green IT. This was mostly because of the lack of previous research, unestablished definitions of the term Green IT as well as nonexistent methods to measure the accomplished work. Furthermore the recent changes in the environment, with escalating pressure from stakeholders with environmental concerns and increased costs of investments and maintenance, have forced IT-companies to measure the effects of IT and its financial impact. Purpose The purpose of our research study is to further clarify the field of Green IT by establishing a definition and constructing a KPI-setting. Method We first established a definition of the term Green IT by gathering available definitions and analysing them. The analysis resulted in two definitions; one for Green IT (a technology product used to support information gathering, processing, distribution and use, and which is or contributes to environmental sustainability) and one for a Green IT Company (manages the process of producing technology used to support information gathering, processing, distribution and use, and which is or contributes to environmental sustainability). These definitions made us realise that there are users and manufacturers of Green IT, with distinctive perspectives and needs when measuring it. According to our definitions we found respondents to interview in order to construct two KPI-settings instead of one. Conclusions The first KPI-setting constructed focuses on producers of Green IT and their production activities along with the financial impact. The second KPI-setting focuses on users of Green IT and looks at the usage of Green IT, and also includes financial indicators to measure financial impact.