Forrester: Eco-minded activity up among IT pros

Between April and October, the percentage of companies employing environmental criteria in choosing tech gear jumped 15 percent, according to a study from research company Forrester.

“As of October, 38 percent of IT professionals said that their companies were using environmental criteria in their evaluation and selection of IT equipment, compared with 25 percent in our April survey,” says the report titled “Green Progress in Enterprise IT.”

Also notable: When asked what was motivating their decisions to embrace more sustainable practices, the No. 1 motivator, shared by 55 percent of all respondents, was to reduce energy-related operating expenses. No surprises there. However, the No. 2 motivator cited by 50 percent of respondent was “doing the right thing for the environment.”

IT vendors’ efforts to spread their green-hued messages appear to be paying off, according to the report. Twenty-nine percent of respondents said they were “highly aware” of “IT vendors’ efforts to promote green IT in the design, operation, and/or disposal of their products”; another 57 percent said they had limited awareness. That 57 percent figure remained consistent, but the percentage of “highly aware” jumped from 15 percent.

The sample size of the survey is worth pointing out: There was total of just 130 responses from IT procurement and operations pros from companies around the globe.

The report, authored by Christoped Mines, can be purchased here for $279.

Related links:

Report: Vendors’ green messages are loud, but not clear

Survey: Apple users more likely to be green-minded

Strategic steps down the green IT path

Ted Samson is a senior analyst at InfoWorld and writer of the Sustainable IT blog. Subscribe to his free weekly Green Tech newsletter.