Tech Career Decoded #7: Tips to adopt a green tech mindset

Let's face it, when it comes to environmental impact, industries like oil, aviation, and fast fashion often take the heat. But here's the thing, tech isn't exactly an innocent bystander. 

In this special edition of Tech Career Decoded, we'll be diving into the sometimes-surprising environmental impact of technology. We’ll also explore how "green tech" is emerging as a potential gamechanger and equip you with practical tips on how to implement green tech practices in your organisation.  

What is the environmental impact of technology? 

E-waste and the materials used in our everyday tech gadgets are big environmental concerns. But there's another hidden culprit: the data centres humming away behind the scenes to power our digital world. Here's where things get real: training a single AI model can create as much carbon as five cars in their entire lifetimes.   

Thankfully, these concerns have sparked innovation in the tech world, leading to the development of various green tech solutions. Green tech refers to technologies and practices that aim to reduce the negative impact of human activities on the environment and natural resources.  

Major cloud service providers like Google and Microsoft are already making strides in this area, leveraging AI for energy use optimisation and committing to renewable energy sources for their data centres. In the UK, the government is pioneering carbon capture technology, which captures CO2 emissions before they reach the atmosphere and stores them safely underground. 

5 ways to implement green tech practices in your organisation 

Green tech is not just about new, groundbreaking technology. It’s also about applying a sustainable and resource-efficient approach to existing tech. In other words, tech jobs can be "greened" by incorporating sustainability practices. 

Want to know how to adopt green tech practices in your day-to-day role? Here are 5 tips that you can put into practice today:

1. Use green coding practices  

You can significantly lower your environmental footprint by adopting green software engineering principles. This involves optimising software for performance, which reduces the computational power needed and lowers energy consumption. You can do this by:  

• Choosing algorithms with lower time complexity for data processing tasks. 
• Using techniques like caching and load balancing (spreading the workload among different servers) to reduce the overall energy needed to keep things running. 
• Reducing the file size of web images, using CSS3 and HTML5 effectively, and minimising the use of resource-intensive frameworks. 

2. Invest in green infrastructure   

Web hosting can be energy intensive. You could consider choosing a web provider that is powered by renewable energy sources like wind or solar power. Not sure where to look? Here’s a list of the best green web hosting companies on the market.  

You can also advocate for the purchase of energy-efficient hardware in your workplace. This can include everything from servers, storage solutions and networking equipment to laptops and monitors. Look for products with the ENERGY STAR label or an “efficient” energy label (EU).  

3. Set up an e-waste recycling programme  

Divert e-waste from landfills by creating a sustainable solution for old or broken electronics. This can involve establishing an e-waste recycling programme at your organisation with convenient office drop-off locations. Additionally, consider extending the lifespan of existing equipment by purchasing refurbished hardware or implementing an internal refurbishment programme.  

4. Implement green policies in the workplace 

You don’t have to be a developer or an IT Manager to make an impact. You can work with HR or your company’s Sustainability Officer to draft and implement sustainable policies in the workplace. For example, you could encourage remote working to reduce travel emissions, offer bike commuting incentives, or promote paperless workflows.  

5. Host workshops to educate colleagues about green tech practices  

Have you noticed colleagues interested in being more sustainable, but unsure where to begin?  That’s where education comes in. Workshops can be a fantastic way to introduce green tech practices relevant to everyone's role, not just the tech team. For instance, marketing teams can learn about low-impact email marketing practices, while legal teams can join a session on reviewing contracts for sustainable practices with vendors. 

💡 Tip: Define measurable goals so you can track progress together and celebrate achievements to keep everyone engaged in your company's sustainability journey. 

The current state of green tech around the world  

To get the lowdown on green tech trends worldwide, we reached out to our Michael Page experts for their insights from different regions. Here’s what they had to say:  

 “In Argentina, green technology is emerging as a promising trend in the labour market. While still in its early stages, there is a growing interest from companies and organisations in adopting more sustainable practices and reducing their environmental impact. This is reflected in the increasing demand for technological solutions that address environmental challenges, such as waste management, energy efficiency, and the use of renewable energies. 

We also see a growing interest in green tech jobs such as environmental engineers specialised in the development and management of sustainable projects, software developers with experience in renewable energy applications and energy efficiency, data analysts for environmental impact analysis, and sustainability consultants who can advise companies on implementing eco-friendly practices.” 

Franco Romani Technology Consultant - Argentina  

“In France, green tech is just a trend at the moment. But some companies, particularly large industrial groups, are getting ahead of the curve. Solution providers, such as cloud providers and software publishers, are also using green tech as a selling point to align themselves with their customers' CSR initiatives. Regulations are set to become more stringent on these issues, and the economic benefits of implementing green IT policies will help to turn this trend into concrete practices in the short term, probably in 3 years from now.” 

Sophie Bayle Practice Manager,  Information Technology - France 

 “In the green industry, technology is driving energy efficiencies through advanced data gathering and automation/AI. On the generation side, data and automation enable higher output from renewable sources like solar and wind farms. Additionally, technology optimises energy consumption through monitoring and data-driven insights, streamlining utilisation and minimising waste. As sustainability is prioritised, leveraging data, automation, and AI in the green industry will accelerate the transition to a more sustainable energy future while meeting global demands with a reduced environmental impact.” 

Nicolas Dumoulin Senior Managing Director - India, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam 

What's the current state of green tech in your region? And how are you adopting a green mindset in your daily work?  

We love hearing from our tech-savvy community, so please drop your thoughts in the comments below and join the conversation. 

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Thanks for reading!    

The Michael Page Technology team