Green ICT Forum

6 May 2011 Green ICT Forum Program

Green ICT Forum 2011:

Saving the Planet – Saving Money

http://greenict.hk/2011/03/15/green-ict-forum-2011-saving-the-planet-%e2%80%93-saving-money/

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2011.05.06 Green ICT Forum, Speech by Ms. Sarah O’Brien, Greening ICT: Challegens and Opportunities

Speech by Ms. Sarah O’Brien

Outreach and Communications Director of the Green Electronics
Council (EPEAT Outreach Director)

Greening ICT : Challenges and Opportunities

6 May, 2011

Ms. Sarah O’Brien’s Presentation Powerpoint

2011.05.06 Green ICT Forum, Keynote Speech by Miss Joey Lam, ICT Adoption for Green

Keynote Speech by Miss Joey Lam

Deputy Government Chief Information Officer (Policy and Customer Service),
Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO), HKSAR Government

ICT Adoption for Green

6 May, 2011

Dr. Quat, Ms. O’Brien, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good afternoon! It is my great pleasure to join you at the Green ICT Forum 2011 today. Being one of the first green ICT events in Asia – and certainly the first of its kind in Hong Kong – the Forum today provides an excellent opportunity for leading industry members and experts to share experience and best practices in reducing carbon footprint through green ICT.

Green ICT as part of the Digital 21 Strategy

ICT plays an instrumental role in enhancing efficiency, saving energy, cutting costs and protecting the environment. The theme of this Forum says it all — “Saving Planet, Saving Money”. One of the desired outcomes of our Digital 21 Strategy, which is the blueprint for ICT development in Hong Kong, is to leverage the widespread use of advanced information and communications technology to achieve ‘green’ objectives.” I would like to take today’s opportunity to share with you the Government’s green ICT initiatives. We hope that by setting an example, these initiatives will spur the community and the
business sector to work in concert for common “green”.

Green Procurement

As a large consumer of ICT equipment, estimated to be over HK$5.5 billion this year, the Government’s procurement policies can help shape market behaviour. The Government is committed to using green ICT technologies and we have required bureaux and departments to take into account environmental considerations when procuring ICT products. For instance, our standard contracts mandate ICT equipment purchased by the Government to incorporate energy saving or power management features, and to comply with other environmental requirements, for example hardware component parts should not contain halogenated substances. Given the pace of technology advancement, we review our product specifications from time to time to ensure that they are keeping up with the development of green computing standards, having regard to sufficient choices of products in the local market.

Paper-Less Meeting Initiative

The most visible area of positive impact of ICT on the environment is its potential to reduce paper consumption. With the widespread adoption of ICT in Government, we have since August 2009 launched the Paper-less Meeting initiative. At present, seven bureaux/departments including, of course, the OGCIO, have embarked on paper-less meeting solutions. Take the OGCIO as an
example, most, if not all, of our meetings are convened in a paper-less fashion. Government-wide, this solution has been put into use in a number of high level meetings including our Digital 21 Strategy Advisory Committee meetings. I would like to point out that not only can this initiative reduce paper consumption substantially and help achieve environmental objectives, it also reaps demonstrable benefits in enhancing efficiency, quickening workflow and forging collaboration. We are rolling out this initiative more extensively to more government departments.

Green Data Centre Strategy

Data centres are substantial energy users. A high-tier data centre, for instance, consumes as much power as 30 to 40 typical high-density residential buildings. Climate Groups projects that by 2020, some 18% of total carbon footprint from the ICT sector will be generated by data centres. In line with our green ICT objective, we have therefore formulated a four-pronged strategy to help
promote green management in government data centres. First, we have drawn up a Practice Guide setting out a set of Baseline Practices and Core Metrics on green data centre management. Second, we are developing sample green procurement and disposal requirements for ICT equipment and data centre facilities for reference and adoption. We aim at completing the sample equirements in late 2011 or early 2012. Third, we will arrange training and experience sharing forums on green data centre management to inculcate the awareness and know-how among Government departments. Last but not least, we are assessing
the current data centre operations in government departments with a view to implementing necessary green management improvement measures.

Green ICT in the Community

At the community level, in order to reduce the quantity of waste computers and accessories disposed at landfills, the Environmental Protection Department has launched a pilot recovery programme in January 2003. The programme is very well-received, with nearly 150,000 waste computers and computer accessories having been recovered and processed.
This pilot programme formed the basis of the Computer Recycling Programme launched in January 2008, which is a voluntary Producer Responsibility Scheme set up and funded by the computer trade to collect used computers and computer parts for refurbishment and recycling. Under the Programme, a charitable organization will help refurbish used computers that are
still in working condition for donation to the needy. For used computers that cannot be recycled in whole, they are dismantled to recover the useful parts and materials for re-use. The Recycling Programme has helped raise public awareness of the need to reduce, re-use and recycle computer waste.

Green ICT Award

Thanks to the Green ICT Consortium, this year’s Hong Kong ICT Awards has introduced a new Best Green ICT Award category to promote green adoption in the ICT sector. I hope that with more Forums of this kind and more meeting of minds, local ICT practitioners will come up with more innovative and effective green ICT solutions in addressing a pressing issue of global concern.

Closing Remarks

Before I close, I would like to congratulate Green ICT Consortium for successfully organising this forum. I wish you all enjoy the programme and have a fruitful sharing this afternoon. Thank you.

2011.05.06 Green ICT Forum, Opening Speech by Dr. Elizabeth Quat, JP

Opening Speech by Dr. Elizabeth Quat, JP

Initiator and Founding Chairman of Steering Committee of Green ICT Consortium

6 May, 2011

Miss Joey Lam, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is my great pleasure to welcome you all to the Green ICT Forum. I am particularly grateful to all our esteemed guests, the speakers, especially the overseas speaker Ms Sarah O’Brien to be with us today. I am sure your presence will help make the Forum a resounding success.

Green ICT Consortium is founded by seven professional non-profit organizations in Nov 2009 committed to enhance a green sustainable environment in Hong Kong through more efficient and more competitive ICT industry practices, and to reduce carbon emission and pollution in the public and private sectors through the use of Green ICT.  Green ICT is regarded as one of the effective strategies, not just for the ICT industry, but for virtually all business sectors to improve operational efficiencies and maintain market competitiveness, locally and globally.

Supported by the Environment and Conservation Fund, the project “Towards low carbon ICT” was started in July last year to promote green ICT to different industries. We are expecting a set of Practice Guidelines and Electronic Self-assessment Tool to be completed by this October referencing the corresponding research study, pioneer study, industrial consultation, as well as ICT carbon audit and to assist local businesses in adopting Green ICT practices.  In addition, we have organized the first Best Green ICT Award in Hong Kong this year.  We were impressed by the numbers of green ICT products or services with high creativity and applicability to the society.

With the support by the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer and other generous sponsorship, today’s Green ICT Forum is organized as the first public forum of the Consortium to further promote an environmentally responsible and sustainable culture in Hong Kong.  We wish the Forum today will enhance the sharing of green ICT practices for both business effectiveness and environmental purposes. I am sure that our eminent speakers and panelists will provoke a more critical look at the opportunities around us today and highlight how we can make Hong Kong a more green and more competitive city.  I wish you enjoy the Forum and Thank you!

Green ICT Forum 2011: Saving the Planet – Saving Money

The Green ICT Forum 2011: Saving the Planet – Saving Money organized by Green ICT Consortium (The Consortium) at the Cyberport has been finished on 6 May 2011 with great success!  The Forum provided an effective platform for the sharing and inspiration of Green ICT practice on reducing ICT costs and enhancing energy and operating efficiency. It successfully achieved the following objectives:

1. Increase awareness for ICT practitioners on Green ICT;
2. Share experiences of best green ICT practices from different business sectors;
3. Elevate ICT practice with environmental initiatives in Hong Kong; and
4. Promote networking opportunities on green ICT

The Organizing Committee would like to thank for all your kind support especially all the overseas and local speakers, sponsors, supporting organizations, co-organizers as well as all the participants. We wish to see you all again in our next event!

More details:

 
Green ICT Forum 2011 report

 
http://events.hkpc.org/1083539255/GreenICT_test.html    (Chinese version)
http://events.hkpc.org/1083539255/GreenICT_eng_test.html   (English version)

Sponsor: Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO)

Venue Sponsor: Cyberport

 Co-organizer: 

Sponsorship Opportunities:

Platinum sponsor:

HK$ 40,000

-       An exhibition booth (particularly for Green ICT)

-       Logo on promotional materials

-       Logo on the website of Green ICT Consortium for one year

 Gold Sponsor:

HK$ 20,000

-       An exhibition booth (particularly for Green ICT)

-       Logo on promotional materials

 Silver Sponsor:

HK$ 10,000

-       Logo on promotional materials

Please contact Ms Helen Tam at info@greenict.hk or 3997 0237 for more information. Thank you!