Maude: Government's green IT plans not enough

News Article - Friday, July 18, 2008

filed under: Technology

Shadow minister for the cabinet office Francis Maude has accused the government of falling short in its plans to cut carbon emissions through greener IT management.

Earlier this week the government unveiled an 18-step initiative to make its IT system carbon neutral within four years.

Among the solutions were turning computers off when not in use and re-using equipment, but Mr Maude insists they should go further.

He says: "The government's own environmental watchdog has savaged ministers for not doing enough to go green. Merely switching off a computer at night may get a good headline for the Whitehall spin machine but isn't good enough."

Installing carbon accounting software is one way to find out where other energy savings could be made.

Earlier this month the environment audit committee reported it was "extremely disappointed" with progress made by the government so far to reach carbon emissions-cutting targets.

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