How Do I Advocate for Green IT Without Being Dismissed as a Lorax?

[Root] Access is an advice column for questions about IT issues, career moves, and workplace concerns.

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Dear [Root] Access,

I’ve got this situation at work, and honestly, it’s pretty stressful. I’m super passionate about green IT—it’s what drew me to my company in the first place. When I interviewed for my job a year ago, I was thrilled about the many organization-wide sustainability projects in the works. During my first six months, I contributed to many of them. These projects, however, gradually became sidelined because of a major IT overhaul.

The overhaul does not have sustainability among its top priorities. The leadership team is focusing on immediate operational needs instead. Those of us who care about green IT feel our concerns are getting overlooked in favor of quick fixes. And it has created a real divide. There’s tension between people like me pushing for long-term sustainability benefits and executives focused on short-term business results.

I still believe green IT initiatives are essential for the environment and the company’s future success. How can I advocate for sustainability without ignoring the business’ immediate needs? Is there a way to show that these priorities can work together, or should I focus all my energy on making the case for green IT?

Related:E-Waste 101: How to Recycle IT Equipment & Reduce Impact

—Green IT Given the Red Light

Dear Green IT Given the Red Light,

It’s clear from your letter that you live by your values: You joined this organization because of its sustainability commitments, and you’ve stayed attuned to its shifting green strategy. 

So, here’s what I’d suggest: Let your values guide your next steps. 

The current leadership sounds more motivated by cost savings and efficiency than doing what’s right. Use that to your advantage. Frame your argument around how prioritizing green IT initiatives can benefit the environment and the organization’s bottom line.

With this in mind, consider the following approach:

1. Determine the short- and long-term financial impacts of neglecting sustainability efforts and gather information on how these initiatives can improve efficiency. A vast number of free resources exist online to help with this. At ITPro Today, for example, we’ve previously discussed how to conduct a sustainability assessment and address the disconnect between sustainability and IT teams. 

2. Next, figure out the best way to share this information. If your employer has an internal blog or platform where employees can post their observations and recommendations, you might start there. Some organizations also offer channels for asking leadership tough questions or leaving suggestions. Ultimately, choose an approved outlet to share your findings and concerns. Leadership is more likely to pay attention when feedback comes through the proper channels. Make sure to frame your message around what matters most to them – in this case, cost-savings and efficiency.

Related:Energy Efficiency Not Enough in Push for Data Center Sustainability

3. From there, wait for the outcome. Your leaders are probably already putting their less-green plans into action. But when they sit down to plan for the next quarter or year, they can reference thoughtfully curated insights from an employee who cares. 

Change takes time. If your organization continues pursuing short-term fixes, remember that you get to decide your own long-term career choices. Your path might lead somewhere else that aligns with your values. 

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