How to make the argument for green technology in the workplace

When the pandemic hit in 2020, digital transformation had to happen really quickly for many charities. For some it meant setting up systems and adapting to remote working; for others it meant moving IT infrastructure to the cloud; for most it meant delivering more services digitally. 

Big four accounting firm KPMG talks about this rapid digital transformation as the digital revolution. They say, “the way we live and work has now changed, possibly forever. These once-simmering changes are now driving a digital revolution. To compete in the ’New Reality’ accelerating the adoption of new technologies is a must…”. 

It’s evident that digital transformation is happening in the sector. According to the 2022 Charity Digital Skills Report, 56% of charities now have a digital strategy, compared to less than 50% in 2021. But how many of those strategies have considered sustainability? 

What is digital sustainability? 

Digital transformation is a crisis for the sector and climate change is a crisis for the planet. Adding a section on digital sustainability to your digital strategy will help your charity to have one eye on both and avoid greenwashing.   

Adopting green technologies 

Green technologies can be used in your charity’s physical and digital environments. Examples of green technologies that you could argue for include: 

Smart thermostats 

Installing a smart thermostat in your offices could save energy and save your charity money. According to Google Nest and Tado, you could save anywhere between 8-31% of the energy used for your heating.  

Electronic waste recycling 

The UK governments’ Health and Safety Executive reports that around 2 million tonnes are discarded annually in the UK. Electronic waste is the fastest growing waste stream across the globe. 

Before binning electrical items from your charity, check out your local council website to see what electric waste recycling options they offer. You can also research repair, re-use and recycling schemes from local electrical retailers like Currys in the UK or global tech firms like Apple.  

It’s greener to send fewer emails! Switch to project management software like Trello or Asana, or messaging apps like Slack to be more energy efficient. 

Remote working 

Encouraging remote working can help contribute fewer emissions to the environment. Cutting commutes saves carbon by reducing travel and the energy generated by an office space to accommodate all staff at the same time.  

Making the argument for green tech 

You might already know the changes that you want to make, but how do you get the rest of the organisation onside with your plan? 

Measure the problem 

Start by working out how you can measure the size of the problem that green tech will help to solve. How much energy, and possibly money, would your changes save the organisation? How much would your charity’s environmental impact be reduced? 

Think about how you can easily communicate the problem and your solution. Have a few eyebrow raising stats on hand that you can share with colleagues.  

Develop your plan 

Think about who your best ally might be at a senior level. If they care about digital sustainability and can see that lots of staff care too, they have an incentive (and the power) to accelerate the process of change.