EVERYBODY LOVES GREEN

Sangeetha Chengappa, Bengaluru
The Asian Age

Increasing greenhouse gas concentrations resulting from fossil fuel and deforestation are said to be responsible for global warming since the middle of the 20th century.

While the common man is still oblivious to the alarming consequences of global warming, IT corporations have started working on green initiatives over the last few years. Indian players such as Wipro and Infosys have adopted green IT on a massive scale; industry body Nasscom has stepped in as well and talks of creating ‘green warriors’ — environment-friendly citizens who would spread the green word in our societies and create awareness.

Many multinational firms have also successfully replicated their eco-friendly practices in India and now report significant reductions in carbon footprint.

European IT services firm Logica is one of them. It hosted the seventh World Environment (WE) Forum meeting at its campus earlier this week to interact with environment experts and share best practices.

"Since we co-founded the WE Forum along with Tesco and IFMA in May 2007, we have reduced the carbon footprint in our Bengaluru facility by 11.3 percent. Globally, we are targeting a carbon footprint reduction by 6 percent in 2009 and by 50 percent by 2020," says the CEO of Logica India Abhay Gupte. The company’s new facility, which opened in Chennai last year, has been designed to reduce carbon emissions.

Tesco Hindustan Service Centre has replaced 2,500 CFL lights to LEDs and has converted the garden and street lighting on its 15 acre campus to LEDs to lower energy consumption. The firm has put catalytic convertors on diesel generator exhausts to reduce carbon monoxide emissions; it has reduced its carbon footprint by 12 percent since 2006.

"Corporate travel has been cut down by 30 percent, using video conferencing solutions such as Telepresence. We have saved 68 percent on lighting costs and are targeting a 5 percent reduction in carbon footprint every year," head of Facilities & Support at Tesco Hindustan Service Centre Capt Dayalu Arasappa says.

Dell which achieved its goal of turning carbon neutral six months ahead of schedule in July 2008, is now targeting to reduce its Greenhouse Gas emissions by 40 percent by 2015. The firm offers free recycling of all branded hardware besides its own hardware since 2006 in India. "Irrespective of their locations, we pick up the hardware from users and recyle it. Although our products offer a one year warranty, we provide spares for five more years so that customers can refurbish and re-use their hardware rather than trash it," director of sales with Dell India Mahesh Bhalla says.

HP’s Global Delivery Application Services campus spread over 22 acres in Bengaluru was voted one of India’s most eco-smart offices. The campus was built to retain 70 percent of the green cover and is equipped with intelligent sensor based lights and taps to optimise usage, water harvesting and recycling. HP has consolidated its 85 data centres to 6, reducing energy consumption by 60 percent.