Rackspace Green Surveyc1776742.cdn.cloudfiles.rackspacecloud.com/downloads/... · 2012. 4. 25. · 1,507 randomly selected Rackspace customers around the globe received a 17 question

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Angel SchneiderRackspace® [email protected]

2009 RACKSPACE GREEN SURVEY

Confidential Material

July 2009

INTRODUCTIONTo more fully understand what types of social issues influence IT purchasing decisions in an unstable economic climate, Rackspace® Hosting conducted its

third annual survey of customers. The focus of the research was to discern whether the environmentally responsible strategies which had originated in the

past two years within the Rackspace client base had continued to be executed, as well as, whether companies which had not created an environmentally

responsible strategy would prefer to allocate efforts to do business with a “green” IT company.

METHODOLOGY1,507 randomly selected Rackspace customers around the globe received a 17 question survey via e-mail and Twitter. 167 customers responded to the questions

under the condition that the identity of the respondents would remain confidential.

A FEW RACKSPACE PERSPECTIVESWhile cost savings proved to be the biggest driver of decisions made about environmentally responsible IT, the survey proved that companies are still concerned

with green initiatives and are continuing on the track to sustaining and improving their environmentally friendly policies. However, only a small handful (two

percent) are one hundred percent green.

• Traditional methods of being green still dominate – like recycling and renewable energy.

• Forty-nine percent of companies have taken the first steps to being green, while twenty-two percent have taken significant steps, which is up five

percent from last year.

• Only twenty-one percent have put their green initiatives on hold due to the economic climate.

• Thirty-one percent of customers had also undertaken data center consolidation, which is both a cost savings and environmentally friendly initiative.

• Seventy-one percent of respondents said they use traditional methods of environmental sensitivity such as recycling.

A new question was added to the survey this year. Rackspace asked whether customers viewed cloud computing as a greener alternative to traditional computing

infrastructure.

• Twenty-one percent agreed that cloud computing was a much greener alternative, while thirty-five percent were not convinced on its green benefits.

• Nineteen percent said the true benefits of cloud computing have not yet been realized.

THE GREEN PERSONAS OF SURVEY RESPONDENTS FELL INTO 3 DISTINCT GROUPS

Key Findings September 2009




2009 RACKSPACE GREEN SURVEY

The Cynics• Think green is hype & marketing “greenwash”

• Skeptical of the intentions & qualifications of

‘green’ vendors

• However, most are willing to recycle etc, as a

means to keep the world a more pleasant place

to live

• Will pursue energy efficiency as a means to save

money

• If a green vendor can save them money, great,

otherwise a vendor should concentrate on

providing the best service & product possible,

not being green

The Middle Ground• Want to do the right thing, but don’t necessarily

have the resources or funds for the green

initiatives they want to undertake

• Will pursue simple initiatives to promote being

green over money savings (i.e. paperless office,

home offices)

• Not always comfortable with some green topics

• Think “green” is cool

The Greens• Having a green image is important

• Evaluate green best practices at all levels of

their business

• Select potential vendors based on their green

credentials

• Willing to pay a premium for green vendors

• Believe they have a personal responsibility

• Actively pursue green accreditation

~25%

~50% ~25%




1. How has the current economic climate impacted your company’s environmental initiatives?

2. Have you used any tools to calculate your business’ entire carbon footprint and how much it would cost your company tooffset your entire carbon usage (i.e. electricity bill, travel, etc.)?

We are still 100% committed to our environmental initiatives ....................................................................50%

A few of our environmental initiatives have been put on hold due to the economic climate .......................24%

Many of our environmental initiatives have been put on hold due to the economic climate..........................6%

Until we see a turnaround in the economy, we will not be focused on environmental initiatives .................21%

No......................................................................72%

Yes .....................................................................17%

Not sure .............................................................11%




3. In the past year, what types of green initiatives has your company undertaken or started to focus on?

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%

Percentage of Respondents

71%

31%

10 %

29%

17%

2%

10 %

4. How “green” is your company today?

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 100%90%80%

1%

2%

We are100% green

My company is not green, butwe’re starting to think about it

We have takenfirst steps

We have takensignificant steps

My company is not green, andwe’re not thinking about it




5. Would you pay a premium to work with a green vendor rather than other market offerings?

6. Would you be willing to pay a premium for products/services utilizing the following:

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%

Carbon offsets Renewable energyConservationRecycling None of the above

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 100%90%80%

1%

1%

2%

Yes, even if the greenvendor’s offering cost50% more




No, not if the greenvendor’s offeringcosts more




7. Which of the following describes your position on power efficiency and its effect on the environment?

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 100%90%80%

8. Are you willing to sacrifice server performance for lower carbon emissions?

Not concerned about powerefficiency within my companyand its impact on the environmentand never will be

Concerned and lookingfor ways to reduce theimpact my company hason the environment

Concerned, but mycompany is not yetprepared to addressthis important issue

Concerned and activelyaddressing power efficiencywithin my company and itsimpact on the environment

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 100%90%80%

2%

Willing to sacrifice20% or more ofserver performance



Not willing at allWilling to sacrifice5% or more ofserver performance




9. If you had your choice to invest in renewable energy, what type would you pay a premium for?

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 80%

2008 2009

70%60%

10. Do you view cloud computing as a greener alternative to traditional computing infrastructures?

Am not convinced on the green benefits of cloud computing.............................................35%

Too much hype around the green benefits of cloud computing ..........................................25%

Yes, cloud computing is a much greener alternative ...........................................................21%

The true green benefits of cloud computing have not yet been realized .............................19%




11. How does cloud computing fit into your environmental initiatives?

Cloud computing is critical to our company becoming greener .....................................................................7%

Cloud computing is not a part of our overall environmental strategy ..........................................................46%

We are currently evaluating cloud computing and its environmental benefits..............................................14%

We have considered the benefits of cloud computing as part of our overall environmental strategy............13%

Would be interested in learning more about the green benefits of cloud computing...................................20%

Documents

Rackspace Green Surveyc1776742.cdn.cloudfiles.rackspacecloud.com/downloads/... · 2012. 4. 25. · 1,507 randomly selected Rackspace customers around the globe received a 17 question