March 7, 2008 - IBM and Intel are smart to get into the green IT consulting business, according to a new survey from Forrester Research. The firm predicts that green IT consulting could balloon to a $4.8 billion industry within the next five years.

As IT departments face increasing pressure to cut energy costs and environmental impacts, many are turning to professional service providers for guidance on equipment procurement, operation, and disposal, as well as processes that help optimize efficiency. In addition to datacenter specialists like IBM and Intel, corporate strategy consultants such as Accenture and Deloitte are well-positioned to capitalize on this emerging trend, according to the report.

It appears that IT professionals could certainly use the help. Many IT departments report difficulty keeping up with green expectations from higher-ups, and a November 2007 survey identified environment performance as a "top pain point" for IT managers at Fortune 100 companies.