Many green business practices stem from the same things we do at home. And while recycling programs, carpooling and turning down the air conditioning are a great start, you can be more ambitious than that. Just as IT can make your business more efficient, it can also make your business more sensitive to the environment. Cloud computing, datacentre virtualization and asset recycling are some of the ways you can save money and reduce your environmental footprint at the same time.

One reason the cloud is such a hot topic right now is that it’s both cost effective and takes up much less space than traditional datacentres. With a consolidated datacentre, fewer servers mean lower equipment costs, as well as reduced emissions and lower overall energy consumption levels. Managed print services can also help you reduce the number of pages printed unnecessarily, so you can save a few trees along the way – or even an entire forest. Asset recycling diverts hardware waste from landfills, either through direct recycling programs or by refurbishing used equipment and donating it to organizations that can give it a second life.

Oh, and don’t forget to shut off the lights when you leave the room.