How We Determined the Top 12

This fall, Computerworld set out to identify companies that are implementing smart, efficient strategies to achieve "green IT." We reached out to select experts for help in developing a set of criteria that would best identify the companies that are working to reduce energy consumption in their IT equipment and that are using technology to conserve energy and lower carbon emissions. These experts included members of The Green Grid Consortium, Forrester Research Inc.'s Christopher Mines and Base Partners Inc.'s Aaron Wangenheim. Based on this expert input, a group of Computerworld editors developed a checklist-style survey and weighting scheme. The survey was sent out to the IT community through a variety of channels, including e-mail newsletters, Computerworld.com and e-mail broadcasts. Surveys were collected in November 2007. View the full survey below.

Eighty-six complete surveys were received. Computerworld then reached out to the participating companies, contacting representatives at the vice president level or higher to verify that the information provided was truthful and accurate. Only those companies that filed verification letters were considered. We then created a separate list of companies that are IT vendors and data center suppliers.

Based on the weighting scheme developed, the top 12 Green-IT Users and top 12 Green-IT Vendors lists were chosen. What follows is the survey and scoring system that Computerworld used to select the "greenest" companies from among the nominees.

The Top 12 Green-IT Companies Survey

Part 1: Checklist

Please indicate your agreement or disagreement with the following statements: Note: Respondents received 1 point for each question below unless otherwise noted.

Top Level

1. Top executives (e.g., CEO) have made an explicit, vigorous commitment to energy efficiency.
2. The organization has set and published goals for energy efficiency, energy savings and/or carbon reduction.
3. The organization has a program to encourage or require employees to save energy (e.g., turn off unused monitors).
4. The organization explicitly encourages employees to suggest, identify and spread practices that save energy.
5. Purchasing practices favor energy-efficient products. (5 points)
6. The organization is a member of a "green" consortium or group dedicated to energy conservation.

Monitoring & Measuring

1. IT managers see and analyze electric utility bills.
2. IT managers have a financial incentive program in place to lower electric utility bills.
3. The IT and facilities departments have teamed up to reduce IT electric bills.
4. The organization measures electricity consumption for IT equipment and data center infrastructure.
5. The organization has performed an audit/assessment of IT and data center power consumption.
6. The organization participates in utility energy-saving or load-balancing programs.