Title: Energy indices for environmental sustainability

Authors: Virgilio Puglia

Addresses: Italtel S.p.A Via A. Brocchi, 20019 Castelletto di Settimo Milanese (Mi), Italy

Abstract: The energy consumption of information and communication technologies (ICTs) is today significant even when compared with other industries. The evolution of ICT in coming years will increase energy need, so energy consumption is becoming one of the key issues. Currently, in the telecommunication field there are not yet accepted indices, definitions and procedures that could allow a standardised energy evaluation. The aim of this paper is to demonstrate the need of energy key indices in all the life-cycle (LCA) of devices and networks for improving energy savings. This study starts with the analysis of what is already implemented in other sectors and it proposes a method for device and network energetic classification.

Keywords: energy cost; lifecycle assessment; LCA; data centres; embodied energy; energy classification; energy indices; environmental sustainability; sustainable development; energy consumption; information and communications technology; information technology; ICT; energy savings.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTMKT.2013.051952

International Journal of Technology Marketing, 2013 Vol.8 No.1, pp.44 - 60

Received: 24 Jan 2012
Accepted: 05 Oct 2012
Published online: 28 Feb 2014 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article