Socially Responsible Consumption of Information Technology Equipment: Case Studies from the Australian Banking Sector

Contemporary organizations have been facing increasing pressure to alleviate ecological deterioration through socially responsible consumption—purchase and use of products or services that have positive or less negative social and environmental impact. This chapter stresses the important role of Green Information Technology (Green IT) as an important element within the larger debate on sustainable and socially responsible use of IT equipment by large corporates. Based on the literature review and case studies of three leading Australian banks, we recognize four key building blocks that facilitate socially responsible consumption of IT equipment (i.e., Green IT) in the banking sector, including green design, green manufacturing, green consumption, and green disposal of IT equipment. We also explore numerous factors, such as virtualization, thin-client computers, energy conservation, ICT cost-reengineering, and green data centers that are intertwined in these four buildings blocks, thus ensuring socially responsible and sustainable consumption of IT equipment in the banks.