June 24, 2008 - Smarter technology use could reduce global greenhouse gas emissions by 15% and save global industry $800 billion in annual energy costs by 2020, according to a new report from the Global e-Sustainability Initiative (GeSI) and the Climate Group.

The report, SMART 2020: Enabling the Low Carbon Economy in the Information Age, estimates that broader application of information and communication technologies (ICT) could dramatically lower energy use not just from global computing but also from the energy-intensive building, logistics, electricity, and industrial sectors.

"Although teleworking, videoconferencing, and e-commerce are increasingly commonplace, replacing physical products and services with their virtual equivalents yields just 6% of the estimated low-carbon benefits the ICT sector can deliver," the researchers argue. "Far greater opportunities for emissions savings exist in applying ICT to global infrastructure and industry."

The report estimates that transforming the way people and businesses use technology could cut global greenhouse gas emissions to the tune of 7.8 gigatons - equal to current annual emissions from the U.S. and China combined.

The ICT sector currently accounts for 2% of global climate emissions - and looks set to double by 2020, the report notes. "ICT's unique ability to monitor and maximize energy efficiency both within and outside of its own sector could cut CO2 emissions by up to five times this amount," the report's authors say.

The report recommends a "SMART" approach to ICT implementation: Standardization, Monitoring, Accounting, Rethinking the way we use energy and, finally, Transforming business models to drive low-carbon alternatives within the global marketplace.

Download the report here (PDF).