South Lanarkshire Council has slashed its carbon emmisions thanks to a new IT upgrade.
The new technology will not only reduce emissions but also result in significant savings and helping to streamline the delivery of services to more than 300,000 residents.
Working with DataVita, Scotland’s largest data centre and multi-cloud services provider, the council has transformed its digital and IT provision, saving over 2000 MWh of energy annually – down from 2222 MWh to 140 MWh, a 94 per cent reduction.
Emissions will also be cut by 95 per cent, decreasing from 91 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent to five tonnes, by migrating data storage to DataVita’s purpose-built DV1 facility.
Modernising its IT operations will enable the local authority to reduce the environmental impact of digital systems by tackling excess energy usage and wastage.
Over the next five years, an estimated 12,800 MWh of energy will be saved, equivalent to the amount of electricity used annually by over 400 average homes.
The IT transformation programme is designed around a new hybrid system, combining cloud-based activities and data centre hosting at the DV1 facility in Chapelhall, which uses 100 per cent renewable electricity.
Brian Teaz, head of information technology at SLC, said: “We have set ambitious targets including a 75 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.
"Over the last six years we have already reduced that by more than a quarter. There is still scope to do more, however, and this new IT approach is a good example of how modernisation can come with real environmental benefits."
Danny Quinn, managing director at DataVita, told Lanarkshire Live : “Sustainability is high on the agenda for most organisations but there is a common misconception that making changes either comes with a downgrade in terms of performance or substantial financial investment.
"Our recent experience with SLC proves otherwise, and we have simultaneously upgraded the IT systems and reduced its carbon footprint and our team has designed a flexible future-proofed system to cater for the council’s needs in the years to come.”
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