Make your business more sustainable by embracing green IT

In today's business landscape, prioritizing sustainability is not only beneficial but imperative for companies aiming to thrive. An increasing number of businesses, including NCP, are recognizing the significant reasons behind embracing sustainability and environmental awareness.

“Sustainability and green IT are currently trending, and for good reasons. These reasons can be personal, moral, and ethical, but there are also direct and indirect economic benefits for companies. Legislators, as well as customers and investors, are increasingly demanding sustainable business practices from companies.”

How managing sustainability permanently lowers costs

A company that prioritizes environmental responsibility and effectively communicates about it can build a more positive image. Being environmentally conscious strengthens the brand's social and environmental standing and enhances its appeal as an employer. In times of a skilled labor shortage, this is an aspect that should not be overlooked.

Environmental concerns are just one aspect of sustainable business. In the three-pillar model of sustainability, the second pillar is social sustainability, and the third pillar is economic sustainability, each with its own benefits in promoting a stable and sustainable economy. However, in practice, not all aspects of the model can always be implemented.

There is no denying that using resources like energy and water more efficiently can lead to considerable cost savings. Consider the significant rise in energy prices in recent years due to the Ukraine war. This makes energy efficiency even more important.

What are the requirements of the Energy Efficiency Act?

In autumn 2023, Germany passed a law to increase energy efficiency for the first time. The Energy Efficiency Act (EnEfG) now requires the public sector and energy-intensive companies to save more energy in the future. This law implements the requirements of the revised Energy Efficiency Directive (EED) of the European Union (EU).

Companies that consume more than 2.5 gigawatt hours of energy annually are now required to create and share plans for implementing cost-effective energy efficiency measures. Additionally, they must make efforts to minimize unnecessary waste heat from their production processes. If it is not feasible to reduce waste heat, they must find practical uses for it.

An initial review of the EnEfG implementation is set for as early as 2027. Following that, the federal government will determine whether to tighten or relax the measures.

Why paying lip service is a business risk

The current laws indicate that simply talking about sustainability and green IT is no longer sufficient. Words must now be backed by action as management consultancy firm Deloitte underscores that failure to meet these increasing standards poses a risk to businesses.

“According to Deloitte, it is widely acknowledged that urgent action is required today. Environmental and social sustainability is now seen as crucial for the survival of humanity. What was once viewed as an issue for idealists is now widely recognized as highly volatile at the highest levels.”

NCP’s contribution to sustainability

NCP also attaches great importance to taking responsibility for our planet. This is why the Nuremberg-based IT security provider is committed to the sustainable use of natural resources. NCP makes its own contribution to protecting the environment which is a good example.

• Focus on software: NCP’s products are 100% software. This has several benefits and its products can be installed on almost any existing hardware in an enterprise. This results in less waste and emissions and ensures resources are used efficiently. 
• Compatibility: NCP ensures maximum compatibility to ensure that customers do not have to purchase new hardware unnecessarily. NCP products should work with as many hardware configurations and operating systems as possible so that existing equipment can be reused.
• High performance standards: Extensive tests and software optimization “down to the last detail” also ensure that no increased power consumption is caused by poorly designed solutions. This is also confirmed by NCP’s ISO 9001 certification for quality management systems by TÜV Rheinland.
• Other sustainability measures at NCP: NCP company provides its employees with hybrid and electric company vehicles, to minimize CO2 emissions and protect the environment. NCP also pays allowances for monthly public transport tickets and offers support for leasing a bicycle for work.

NCP was recognized for its achievements with the “Employer of the Future” award in November 2023. The award is presented by the independent editorial team of DUP Magazine in cooperation with the German Innovation Institute for Sustainability and Digitalization. During the multiple-stage evaluation, the team considered criteria that indicate exemplary service and sustainable corporate management.