Tips for SMB offices to go green IT

Despite growing corporate interest to be more eco-friendly, small and midsize businesses 
(SMBs)--although keen--may not be following through with adoption of green IT and practices.
According to Audrey Heng, senior market analyst for green IT at IDC, SMBs have less incentive to go green compared with larger companies as their priority simply would be to "make a living".

"SMBs don't even spend a lot of IT, so if they don't even spend a lot on IT, they will not even be reaping a lot of benefits from green IT," Heng added.
Still, she noted some of the simpler steps SMBs could consider adopting first, which include setting printers to print double-sided on default, and installing software to automatically power down devices and track power usage.
Workflow can also be digitized through document scanning so information can be shared over tablets instead of paper printouts.
On a more advanced level, Heng said SMBs could encourage employees to telecommute and use videoconferencing for meetings and sales trainings.

"Ultimately, there is no point having all these green IT and policies if employees don't make use of them, so what SMBs need to do is also to educate staff," she said.