Get ready for the attack of CRN's Green machine

The popularity of certain CRN Online stories gives us a healthy indication of what our readers are thinking about and concentrating on. One area which certainly reflects some strong popularity is the Green issue. For example, this week’s top-rated story is around vendor Symantec’s approach to Green IT (www.techpartner.news/?103716).

“There’s been a sharp increase in companies wanting to know how we can help them reduce their carbon footprint,” said Jose Iglesias, vice president Global Solutions at Symantec. “There’s a groundswell of interest in Green IT that comes from legislation. Of course, there are also selfish reasons such as addressing the spiralling cost of electricity.”

Iglesias added that a sense of corporate responsibility is gaining momentum and driving the adoption of Green practices, however government legislation remains the primary motivator.

In order to support CRN’s three months of Green focus during our Green quarter which has been launched today, we have created a new Green tab on CRN Online. Our Green section will have regular news, blogs, features, initiatives and features focused on one of IT’s hottest topics. We will also be hosting a Golf Day in April (Green issues, putting green – you get the idea), where I’m looking forward to hacking my round with IT’s biggest Green gurus. I’ll blame it on an off-day on the course – we all have those.

In recent weeks I’ve had meetings with IBM, HP and Cellnet, who all had views and plans on the Green issue. To be honest, when I raise Green topics with contacts, it is rare to be greeted with blank expressions. The time for being Green naïve is over and every industry spokesperson should have an opinion. These views tend to be very similar from the vendor and distributor community, but it would be nice to hear what the reseller community makes of it all.

This is also a good time to ask CRN’s readers to be as vocal as they want around Green issues. The Green topic is flooded with vendor speak on how important it is and what the channel should be doing.

I’m sure readers feel the same as me about vendor speak – not a huge fan. With that in mind, don’t be slow to come forward and contact us at CRN through editors@techpartner.news, with any Green news, views, complaints or just an opportunity to give your two cents on the issue in hand. It is reseller feedback like that which will make the difference in the Green issue and ensure that the gap between vendor speak and resellers is bridged.