Organisations that are tempted to cut back on green PC initiatives as part of wider IT cost-cutting efforts may find themselves out of pocket in the near- to mid-term, according to Gartner, Inc. For most companies, being green actually saves money and alleviates some of the pressure on IT budgets.

Steve Kleynhans, research vice-president at Gartner said, "The companies need to pursue these low-risk initiatives as they often provide quick returns that are especially attractive in a cost-cutting environment."

"Green PC initiatives typically do not add significantly to ongoing operational costs, and the small upfront costs associated with them are usually easily recovered 12 to 18 months after the program begins," Kleynhans said.

Companies should continue to move forward with green PC initiatives that began in 2007 and accelerate certain programs, particularly those that deliver power savings, so that organisational efficiencies can have an impact on the budget as soon as possible.

Gartner has identified four key areas where green PC initiatives can lead to cost savings:

Look for Eco-Friendly Labels on New PCs

Switching to a more eco-friendly model can reduce power consumption by 20 percent or more and usually carries only a very small premium (typically less than $20 per desktop).

Green Really Can Save Money

Putting machines into a low power state when not in use is a low risk, but a highly effective change to a PC fleet because it costs little or nothing (typically less than $10 a year) to implement and reduces energy costs from more than $75 a year to approximately $18 a year.

There’s Gold in Old Machines

Good PC disposal programs become even more critical in the event of a business downturn. When properly disposed of, older equipment has value that can help pay for newer, more-efficient systems.

Efficient Users Tend to Be Green Users

The most-efficient way of fulfilling a business process can often be the "greenest." Programs that encourage the reduction of travel and commuting may require a minor uplift in technology spending, but are also likely to improve workers’ productivity and attitudes.