Even greener IT

Journal of Information, Communication and Ethics in Society 9 (2):68-82 (2011)
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Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to look at current practices and associated consumption patterns in information technology, looking at how impacts of IT, for good and ill, will be evaluated by green theory.Design/methodology/approachThe paper takes an interdisciplinary approach drawing together literatures from a variety of fields, including green theory, information systems, green economics, computing, energy studies, cultural studies, waste management, and transport research.FindingsFeedback effects that cause early replacement of software and hardware form a complex, environmentally harmful, vicious circle that can appropriately be called “the upgrade treadmill”. Considering wider impacts of IT suggests that imperatives to renovate, rather than replace, hardware are stronger than narrower considerations of “green IT” would suggest, and there is a responsibility on those involved in the academic disciplines associated with training future IT professionals to try to work against the “upgrade treadmill”.Originality/valueThis paper is novel in exposing green IT to green theory. In doing so, it seeks to move consideration of green IT onto a more rounded basis.

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Nadia Ben
Abdelmalek Essaâdi University

Citations of this work

The clean side of Slow Tech: an overview.Norberto Patrignani & Diane Whitehouse - 2015 - Journal of Information, Communication and Ethics in Society 13 (1):3-12.
Sustainable and fast ICT: lessons from dromology.Thomas Taro Lennerfors - 2014 - Journal of Information, Communication and Ethics in Society 12 (4):284-297.
Green IT practice disclosure.Qi Deng, Shaobo Ji & Yun Wang - 2017 - Journal of Information, Communication and Ethics in Society 15 (2):145-164.

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