ICT industry holds key to greener world

Star, Tech Central

Published: Thursday June 25, 2009 MYT 10:57:00 AM

KUALA LUMPUR: Industries that utilise the least amount of ICT (information and communications technology) are the worst offenders in relation to carbon dioxide emissions, said chipmaker Intel Corp.

It said that the ICT industry accounts for 2% of carbon dioxide emissions worldwide while the other industries are responsible for the remaining 98%.

General manager of eco-technologies at Intel, Lorie Wigle, said a study by Gartner shows that the transportation, construction and electrical industries can be more energy efficient.

“These industries would be greener if they took advantage of the latest technologies,” she said. “We believe ICT can benefit every other industry and we are taking the opportunity to offer these green technologies to governments and industries.”

She said Intel is in talks with governments in various parts of the world, making proposals and offering advice on turning their industries into more eco-friendly organisations.

Such meetings are being held with the Malaysian Government, according to Wigle. She said Intel has met with Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry, as well as the Multimedia Development Corp, guardian of the MSC Malaysia initiative.

The proposals put forward at these talks include the construction of smart buildings in the country that promote green by employing efficient energy-management systems.

“There is a lot of enthusiasm from the Government and its agencies over becoming more energy efficient and we hope to be able to announce something concrete in the near future,” said Wigle.

Intel is also consulting and sharing information with national applied research body, Mimos Bhd, on frontier technologies and regional trends related to climate change.

It hopes that its efforts will eventually translate into government policy.