National Monitor
VERNON HILLS, Ill. – Sept. 29, 2009 – After influencing the way large businesses buy and use technology, the Green IT movement is now ready to sweep into the small business sector. According to a new survey by CDW Corporation, small businesses are now most likely to invest in Green IT in the coming months, even in light of the recession. Nearly a third (31 percent) of small business IT decision makers say their companies plan to implement Green IT initiatives in the next two years—more than any other corporate or government sector.
While penetration into the small business sector will be a testament to the strength of Green IT, a lack of expertise and internal know-how are among the hurdles that stand in the way of wider adoption. One in five IT decision makers cite lack of expertise (22 percent) and complexity of maintaining Green IT (21 percent) as the greatest barriers to adoption. More than half (54 percent) still report cost as the greatest barrier to implementing Green IT solutions.
Despite a challenging economic climate, Green IT continues to be highly valued among corporate and government organizations alike. Nearly four out of five (79 percent) corporate and government IT decision makers feel it is important for their organization to implement Green IT initiatives, holding relatively steady since 2008 which registered 80 percent.
“Green technology has come a long way in the past few years, and the desire among small businesses to support this technology underscores its value and staying power,” said Mark Gambill, the company’s executive responsible for market insights. “While it is now possible to implement a variety of environmentally responsible solutions regardless of organization size and budget, there is a clear opportunity to educate IT decision makers about the options available, such as server and storage virtualization.”
Additional findings from CDW’s Green IT survey:
| Has Your Company Implemented or Does it Plan to Implement Green IT in the Next Two Years? | Implemented | Plans to Implement |
| Small Businesses (1-99 Employees) | 23% | 31% |
| Medium-Size Businesses (100-999 Employees) | 44% | 23% |
| Large Businesses (1,000+ Employees) | 66% | 18% |
| Local Government Organizations | 42% | 20% |
| State Government Organizations | 41% | 22% |
| Federal Government Organizations | 47% | 20% |
IT decision makers are also taking a long-term view of the benefits of Green IT in the wake of the challenging economic climate. According to the survey, only 38 percent of IT decision makers across both corporate and government sectors cite cost savings as a top benefit to adopting Green IT initiatives. Approximately half cite positive impact on the environment (55 percent) and positive reputation (46 percent) as the leading benefits of implementing Green IT.
“While cost is a limiting factor when making the decision to adopt Green IT, especially under economic constraints, it’s particularly encouraging that a majority of IT decision makers recognize the long-term benefits of Green IT,” said Gambill. “While difficult decisions continue to be made in the short-term, we’re seeing indications of steady and consistent support of Green IT overall.”
In the government sector, 43 percent of IT decision makers say their organization has implemented Green IT, an increase of eight percentage points since last year. Still, fewer government organizations have future plans to implement Green IT. Less than a quarter (23 percent) of businesses and (21 percent) government organizations plan to adopt Green IT in the next two years, a decrease of four and five percentage points, respectively.
Green IT is the practice of using natural resources efficiently and minimizing environmental impact through the entire IT product lifecycle. Examples of Green IT initiatives include IT purchasing practices that favor environmental protection, efficient IT energy use and safe recycling of electronic equipment. For more information about attitudes of IT decision makers toward Green IT, please visit www.cdwitmonitor.com.
About the CDW Green IT survey
The CDW Green IT survey was created by CDW Corporation, and research and analysis was conducted by independent polling firm Richard Day Research of Evanston, Ill. Decision makers are invited from two large national panels of IT decision makers built and maintained by E-Rewards and Survey Sampling International. Data reported in this release is based on a survey of 1,048 IT decision makers conducted between July 16 and July 23, 2009.
CDW Corporation also publishes the CDW IT Monitor, a bimonthly indicator of the direction, momentum and mindset of the U.S. IT marketplace. The IT Monitor is based on a national online survey of at least 1,000 IT decision makers from business (small, medium and large) and government (state, federal and local) sectors. The next CDW IT Monitor will be released in October 2009.
About CDW
CDW is a leading provider of technology solutions for business, government and education. Ranked No. 34 on Forbes' list of America's Largest Private Companies, CDW features dedicated account managers who help customers choose the right technology products and services to meet their needs. The company's technology specialists offer expertise in designing customized solutions, while its advanced technology engineers can assist customers with the implementation and long-term management of those solutions. Areas of focus include notebooks, desktops, printers, servers and storage, unified communications, security, wireless, power and cooling, networking, software licensing and mobility solutions.
CDW was founded in 1984 and as of June 30, 2009 employed approximately 6,250 coworkers. In 2008, the company generated sales of $8.1 billion. For more information, visit CDW.com.
