ITI Energy Policy
Agenda
Through ongoing innovation, information technology (IT) is
a key part of helping address the nation’s energy challenges. The
IT industry continues achieving greater energy efficiency in its own products,
and more importantly, innovation in IT enables greater energy savings throughout
all sectors of the economy. The IT industry also leads corporate America
through its commitment to responsible corporate energy conservation programs.
Recognizing that governments and regulators can have tremendous
impact on energy efficiency and the environment, the IT industry would
like to work with policy leaders to move the nation toward greater energy
independence, lower environmental impact, and better awareness of energy
resources. We encourage partnership, industry-led innovation, and a holistic
approach to energy efficiency.
High Tech Energy Policy Agenda
1. Provide Incentives to Foster Telecommuting
Information technology and advances in broadband telecommunications allow
teleworking and remote access to information, thereby reducing consumption
of fossil fuels.
- Congress should provide incentives for teleworking by
preventing the double taxation of teleworkers or providing a tax incentive
to businesses that promote teleworking among employees;
- Congress should direct the FCC to devote more spectrum
to high-speed broadband access applications, and ensure that new technologies
and applications (such as VoIP, IP video and other Internet applications)
remain free from outdated telephone and cable regulations.
2. Focus Government Procurement Power on Energy
Efficient IT
The federal government is the largest purchaser of IT products in the United
States. Federal, state and local governments spend tens of billions of
dollars annually on energy-consuming products, thus offering thousands
of opportunities to reduce government energy use through the purchase of
energy efficient products. Government procurement programs help raise awareness
of energy efficient products, increase comfort levels with their use, and
reduce costs of manufacturing through economies of scale.
- Congress should direct the Department of Energy to find
opportunities to reduce government energy consumption through the acquisition
and implementation of energy efficient IT products and systems.
- Congress should direct the Department of Energy to conduct
a study of IT procurement methodologies that further more energy efficient
IT provisioning and consolidation.
3. Increase Funding for Research and Development
Ongoing research and development in IT products and new energy technologies
will yield measurable energy efficiencies now and in the future.
- Congress should expand funding for the National Science
Foundation, National Institute of Science and Technology, and the Department
of Energy that supports research in the following four areas: 1) server
energy performance measures; 2) data center energy efficiency measures
and ratings; 3) potential savings and costs from energy-aware software
development; and 4) potential savings and costs from improved applications
management.
4.Offer Incentives for More Efficient Data Centers
Some marketplace incentives exist today to improve large data centers’ energy
efficiencies. Many businesses may need additional incentives to help accelerate
the purchase of more energy efficient servers, other efficient IT products
and systems.
Congress should shorten tax depreciation schedules or provide immediate
expensing for the purchase of products that meet federal energy efficiency
standards, to the extent such standards exist.
5.Adequately Fund Energy Efficiency Programs
The Environmental Protection Agency and the Energy Star program successfully
highlight and support energy efficient products and purchasing, yet the
President’s FY08 Budget cuts 18 percent from federal energy efficiency
programs, and 9 percent from the Energy Star program.
- Congress should adequately fund energy efficiency programs,
such as Energy Star, and the Department of Energy should maintain a cooperative
relationship with the IT industry, relying on voluntary, market-oriented
programs and initiatives.
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Key issues: Energy and environment
ITI
letter to Congress supporting
energy efficiency provisions
06.19.2007
ITI
Response to EPA Draft Report
05.07.2007
ITI
Company Energy Stories
GLOBAL INDUSTRY PAPER ON ENERGY EFFICIENCY |
