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GREEN LIGHT FOR VIRTUALISATION
Thursday, 8 May 2008
Last week at my interview with AxiCom, the managing director, Lyle Closs, explained the concept of virtualisation to me. I was a little unsure but I understood that it involved sharing space on servers so that fewer servers are needed. This seems like a great idea and a good way to reduce spending on IT.

However, what I hadn't considered was the environmental impact of virtualisation. Fewer servers means less electricity is required to power the system.

Today in the Guardian there is an article about this subject, Why the future's green for IT. It explains that at present most servers use less than 10% of their capacity whilst running. So by using virtualisation, one server could replace ten. This has the potential to save money and reduce the amount of energy required to power the system and keep it cool.

From a PR point of view this is fantastic. If a client reduces their server use through virtualisation then there is the opportunity for "X&Y Computing Goes Green" style articles. However by adopting this approach it leaves the client open to accusations by the press of being less environmentally friendly elsewhere.

In his blog, Seth Godin recently suggested that green marketing will soon face a backlash from reporters and consumers who see through the eco-friendly promises and campaigns, and want to see that companies really care. So perhaps companies should make more of an effort to be green, instead of simply jumping on the back of new research that shows that they are slightly greener than they thought.

Labels: climate change, environment, formby, green, matthew watson, public relations, seth godin, the guardian

posted by Matthew Watson at 10:41 0 Comments

AN ORGANIC DISCOVERY!
Saturday, 9 February 2008
Whilst doing some research for my business pitch for 'Oh My Cod' I discovered Lyncroft Farm in Ormskirk.

Lyncroft Farm is a local farm, just six miles away from Formby, supplying locally produced organic foods. They run an organic veg box scheme with prices ranging from £10 for a small box containing seven vegetable crops to £18 for a family box containing seven vegetable crops, five fruit crops and twelve organic eggs. Free-range of course!

I think that's exceptionally good value, especially when you consider that organic food contains more vitamins and minerals than non-organic food and is more environmentally friendly to boot. Not to mention the much reduced food miles compared to supermarket produce that has more often than not had something of a world tour.

Labels: box scheme, business pitch, environment, food miles, formby, free range chicken, free range eggs, lyncroft farm, matthew watson, oh my cod, organic, organic food, ormskirk, supermarkets

posted by Matthew Watson at 17:16 0 Comments

SALAD. BUT AT WHAT COST?
Wednesday, 16 January 2008
I've just made myself a delicious free-range chicken and pesto salad with a bag of Sainsbury's organic seasonal baby leaf salad. This seasonal salad came from the UK, Kenya, Portugal, Italy, USA and Spain in a non recyclable bag. What's so seasonal about that?

So, my choice to try and protect the environment and my food from chemicals has resulted in at least five flights, countless food miles and a plastic bag that will still be here in a few centuries time.

It makes you think why bother. Am I doing more harm than good?

Labels: environment, food miles, formby, free range chicken, matthew watson, organic, recycling, sainsburys

posted by Matthew Watson at 18:57 0 Comments

Matthew Watson Matthew Watson is a consultant for Rainier PR, a tech pr firm based in London, UK. Matt blogs about his journey into the wonderful world of technology public relations.

Matt's views and opinions are his own and do not represent those of his past, present or future employers.

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