Although the public sector is to blame for only 3% of the nation's total emissions, the UK Department for Energy and Climate Change's draft Carbon Plan, which was published in early March, made it clear that public authorities are responsible for setting an example to others. Moreover, the last government's Greening Government ICT plan set the goal of ensuring that public sector technology should be carbon neutral in and of itself by 2012, with all elements of the ICT lifecycle expected to follow suit by 2020. The campaign remains on the agenda, with the coalition government developing a new green ICT strategy.
While cost-cutting is the current priority, this can go hand-in-hand with boosting energy efficiency and carbon reduction. Councillor Keith Evans of Hampshire county council makes the point that: "Whether it's about green credentials or a focus on cost savings, the two come together very well."
Source: The Guardian