Greening Information Communication Technologies in Small-Medium Sized Companies

Information Communication Technologies (ICT) imply the convergence of the audiovisual, telephone networks and computer networks through a cabling link system for the purpose of sharing information.This research analyzes the possible ways that small and medium sized business and educational institutions could implement and benefit from the environmentally and economically benign ICT.This research aims at increasing awareness regarding the advantages and limitations on green ICT in addition to providing guidelines for ICT utilization.Green ICT in general implies the study and analysis of creating, improving and sustaining environmental benign ICT practices to become permanent parts of the organizational efforts.Green ICT mainly proposes a unified network for communication and the integration of telecommunication, computers, audiovisual systems and storage devices.Various areas where ICT can be applied are computer architecture, data networks and communication; internet usage and multimedia applications.The paper also looks into common concerns regarding ICT implementation form social, health and safety aspects.It is commonly believed that the use of ICT create digital polarization, society segregation on rich and poor, while increasing disadvantage of populations that reside in remote areas.Health issues include eyestrain and exposure to harmful substances caused by the computer systems.Safety issues deal with the potential hazard to human health such as power surges and electric shocks.Educational leg focuses on utilizing ICT including video recordings, broadcasts, images, texts, and worksheets for idea generation and teaching purposes.To investigate these issues further this study reports the results of an ICT adoption survey conducted for small-and medium-sized US-based companies.Statistical analysis and diagrams were generated as the result of the research.Overall, of the survey is resulted in the following findings.The green ICT requires companies to be able to present the needs of the present generations compromising to meet their needs through pollution prevention.The goal of the green computing is to reduce the use of hazardous materials found in computer systems; to maximize the product lifetime and to promote recyclability and biodegradability of the defunct and factory waste products.The different approaches include server virtualization, multi-functional printing devices, active power management, virtual desktop and upgrading the organization's ICT equipment.