Lesson Element
Unit 2: Global information
LO4: Understand the legal and regulatory
framework governing the storage and use of
global information
Green IT
Instructions and answers for tutors
These instructions cover the learner activity section which can be found on page 4. This
Lesson Element supports Cambridge Technicals Level 3 in IT.
When distributing the activity section to the learners either as a printed copy or as a
Word file you will need to remove the tutor instructions section.
The activity
Learners will learn about Green IT and how it can be used to help the environment as well
as provide benefits to organisations.
They will carry out research into Green IT.
Learners will also investigate three case studies, to find out how large organisations are
making small changes to the way they use IT that can have clear benefits to the
organisation, as well as helping to improve global sustainability.
Suggested timings
Activity 1: 15 minutes
Activity 2: 45 minutes
Activity 3: 1 hour
ABC – This activity offers an
opportunity for English skills
development.
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Activity 1
Tutors could begin by outlining the global pressures on organisations to adopt Green IT
practices in order to improve their sustainability and to reduce their carbon footprint.
Learners will need to carry out research, so that they are able to develop their understanding
of the rational for Green IT:
 Why bother?
 What is the big idea?
 What are the challenges?
Tutors could suggest that learners search using the term ‘green information technology’
rather than ‘Green IT’, as it will return better results.
Activity 2
Tutors could begin by explaining the global pressures on organisations to adopt Green IT
practices in order to improve their sustainability and to reduce their carbon footprint.
Learners could develop their understanding of the rationale for Green IT and the global
benefits by carrying out research.
Global Action Plan: Green ICT Handbook – A guide to green ICT:
https://www.liv.ac.uk/media/livacuk/sustainabilitynew/documents/Green-ICT-Handbook.pdf
Learners could develop their understanding by explaining the benefits of Green IT to
organisations in a short report. Learners could use examples from the case studies on the
John Lewis Partnership in their report.
Activity 3
Tutors could either provide a copy of the resource or ensure that learners have access to the
Internet for this activity.
Global Action Plan: Green ICT Handbook – A guide to green ICT:
https://www.liv.ac.uk/media/livacuk/sustainabilitynew/documents/Green-ICT-Handbook.pdf
Tutors should make sure that the learners focus on the correct case studies for this activity.
However, the other case studies could be used as an extension activity if desired.
Firstly, learners could read the three case studies listed below:
 Case study on Automated Power Management (page 18)
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 Case study on Device Consolidation (page 19)
 Case study on People Power (page 19)
Working in pairs, learners should make notes.
Next, learners could discuss what they have found out with their partner, and then they could
write a summary of the purpose of the actions taken by the John Lewis Partnership in each
case.
Learners, working individually, could also explain the benefits for the John Lewis Partnership
and for global sustainability.
Tutors might want to hold a plenary discussion on this activity, in order to check and develop
understanding of the benefits.
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Lesson Element
Unit 2: Global information
LO4: Understand the legal and regulatory
framework governing the storage and use of
global information
Learner Activity
Green IT
In this Lesson Element you will learn about Green IT and how it can be used to help the
environment as well as providing benefits to organisations.
You will carry out research into Green IT.
You will also investigate three case studies, to find out how large organisations are making
small changes to the way they use IT that can have clear benefits to the organisation, as
well as helping to improve global sustainability.
Activity 1
Your tutor will outline the global pressures on organisations to adopt green information
technology practices in order to improve their sustainability and to reduce their carbon
footprint.
You should now carry out your own research into the reasons for implementing green
information technology.
You should make notes on what you find out.
Once you have finished this activity you should know why Green IT is important globally.
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Activity 2
You should now carry out more in-depth research to discover the global benefits of Green IT.
You should create a short report or presentation which covers the following:
 United Nations Climate Change Summits
 UK government policy (e.g. Greening Government: ICT Strategy (2011))
 Reducing carbon footprint
 Overall purpose of Green IT (e.g. sustainability)
 Overall benefits of Green IT (e.g. enhanced brand image, reduced energy costs).
You should write about Green IT in general terms, but you might want to use a few specific
examples to help your descriptions and explanations.
These resources are a good starting point:
Greening Government: ICT Strategy:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/155098/greeni
ng-government-ict-strategy.pdf
United Nations and Climate Change: http://www.un.org/climatechange/
Activity 3
You will use some of the case studies in the ‘Green ICT Handbook – A guide to green ICT’
to find out more about how Green IT can provide benefits for holders of information.
Here are the three case studies that you will need:
 Case study on Automated Power Management (page 18)
 Case study on Device Consolidation (page 19)
 Case study on People Power (page 19)
Global Action Plan: Green ICT Handbook – A guide to green ICT:
https://www.liv.ac.uk/media/livacuk/sustainabilitynew/documents/Green-ICT-Handbook.pdf
Firstly, you will need to read the three case studies and make notes; you might want to do
this in pairs.
Next, discuss what you have found out with your partner, and then you should write a
summary of the purpose of the actions taken by the John Lewis Partnership in each case.
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You should also explain the benefits for the John Lewis Partnership and for global
sustainability.
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