By Mel Duvall

IT professionals can now obtain a certificate in green IT through a new program offered by the CompTIA industry association.

CompTIA, a trade association for the information technology industry, announced this week that it is offering a specialized exam covering green technologies, techniques, standards and policies. It is intended for IT professionals who have decision-making authority over a company’s technology infrastructure, such as IT managers, supervisors, data center managers and operations managers.

“Green IT is at the heart of virtually every aspect of sustainability, from the power grid, smart buildings and environmental control systems to telepresence, telecommuting and virtualization,” said Terry Erdle, CompTIA senior vice president of skills certifications. “To fulfill the promise of green IT, technology professionals must add new skills unique to its environment.”

CompTIA noted that industry companies and professionals have been stepping up their efforts in the green IT arena. In a study conducted by the association in 2009, CompTIA found that 40 percent of IT service providers are now providing energy audits to clients, and 26 percent provide carbon footprint measuring. Another 23 percent plan to offer those services within the next two years.

The study also found that 72 percent of audits assessed the “greenness” of energy consumption and power management. It also found that 78 percent of organizations factor energy consumption into their purchase of monitors and displays and 77 percent factor it into the purchase of PCs.

In order to obtain the green IT certificate, professionals must complete a 30 question exam in 60 minutes and earn a score of at least 70 percent. The exam addresses areas including proper disposal, preserving power, reducing an organization’s carbon footprint, indentifying green IT organizations and standards, implementing virtualization on IT systems, and calculating return on investment from green IT initiatives.

Exams are being delivered at Pearson VUE and Prometric-operated testing centers around the world. CompTIA recommends that exam candidates have at least 18 to 24 months of technical experience, along with CompTIA A+ and CompTIA Server+ certification.

Comments (4)

	1. 03-26-2010 00:18
	In my experience, exposure to the green agenda within an IT organization is often restricted to a select few individuals, so an industry certification such as this may raise awareness as long as there are suitable study materials to aid in preparation. Registered

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	2. 03-26-2010 22:33
	I think this is a good step, all of us consultants really need to be aware of how our recommendations affect the bottom line power and resource consumption. Hopefully, this type of information can be added to larger certification programs as well including both Microsoft and Cisco offerings.    -sean Registered

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	3. 03-28-2010 00:53
	I agree Sean. Organizations want to show that they're being proactive in terms of adopting and initiating Green strategies. Being able to hire a consultant with a Green certification shows they are serious in their intentions. From the consultant's perspective, it's one more advantage in their favor. Registered

Mel Duvall

	4. 04-01-2010 13:09
	It's worth noting that green IT and environmental concerns in general receive higher priority in Europe than in the United States. This endorsement of the importance and acceptance of green IT by a global group, should encourage American users to take a second look at the issue. Registered

Mark Henricks

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