Old computers go as upgrade aids targets
The largest federal government agencies are set to undergo a wholesale renovation of their computer hardware this year, in the process edging closer to achieving their "sustainable information and communications technology [ICT] targets".
The aggressive projects that involve replacing ageing PCs and printers, while typically part of a standard refresh program, are also being pursued to hit sustainable ICT targets set in the Australian Government ICT Sustainability Plan 2010-15.
The plan aims to "improve environmental performance and reduce carbon emissions across government and the ICT industry". It aligns with other government targets including the commitment to reduce carbon emissions by 60 per cent of 2000 levels by 2050.
The Department of Human Services will replace 30,000 PCs by the end of 2013, upgrading its entire fleet to Windows 7. It has already replaced 10,000, a department spokesperson said. The Australian Taxation Office is also expected to upgrade more than 20,000 PCs to Windows 7 by the end of the year in a project that was first publicised in the first half of 2012.
The Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations is in the process of decommissioning more than 1000 desktops and 300 laptops, which will not be replaced.
"DEEWR expects this activity to result in a ratio of 1.39 devices to every user by July 2013," a spokesperson said.
Other agencies have already undergone or are working on similar refreshes.
On their sustainable wish-list were a maximum of 1.4 desktop devices an employee by July 2012, lowering to 1.2 an employee by July 2015; a 90-plus per cent shutdown rate for devices overnight; and one printer/copier per 14 desktops by mid-2011 and per 20 desktops by July 2015.
The plan also aimed to cut office paper use to 13 reams an employee a year by July 2012 and nine reams by 2015. One ream is about 500 sheets of A4 paper.
Data compiled by IT Pro on nine of the 10 largest federal government agencies - the ABS did not provide all data - shows eight of the agencies have already hit the July 2012 device-to-employee ratio, with only DEEWR set to come in a year late.
But due to varying reasons, including operational demands, most do not have an automatic shutdown policy and process in place, relying instead on sleep mode or employee diligence and failing to meet the shutdown target.
Additionally, only four of the largest agencies, Immigration, Health and Ageing, DEEWR, and Innovation, achieved the July 2012 copier/printer-to-desktop ratio target. Excluding Immigration, which did not provide data on paper use, three of the largest agencies - Defence, Human Services and DEEWR - have yet to achieve their July 2012 targets, with current use rates of about 18, 15.4 and 14 reams an employee respectively.
A mid-term review of the sustainability plan is understood to be under way.
Frequently Asked Questions about this Article…
The hardware refresh is being driven by the Australian Government ICT Sustainability Plan 2010–15. Agencies are replacing ageing PCs and printers not only as part of standard refresh cycles but to meet sustainability targets designed to improve environmental performance and reduce carbon emissions across government and the ICT industry.
The Department of Human Services plans to replace 30,000 PCs by the end of 2013 and has already replaced 10,000, upgrading its fleet to Windows 7. The Australian Taxation Office is expected to upgrade more than 20,000 PCs to Windows 7 by the end of the year. Other departments, such as DEEWR, are also decommissioning and refreshing equipment.
Key targets include: a device-to-employee ratio of a maximum 1.4 desktops per employee by July 2012 and 1.2 by July 2015; a 90%+ overnight shutdown rate for devices; one printer/copier per 14 desktops by mid-2011 and one per 20 desktops by July 2015; and reduced office paper use to 13 reams per employee by July 2012 and nine reams by 2015. The plan also aligns with broader emissions-reduction commitments.
Data compiled by IT Pro on nine of the 10 largest federal agencies (the ABS did not provide full data) shows that eight agencies have already met the July 2012 device-to-employee ratio target. The Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) was expected to meet the target about a year late.
Most agencies have not met the automatic shutdown target: many rely on sleep mode or employee diligence rather than an automatic shutdown policy, so they are failing to reach the 90%+ overnight shutdown goal. Only four of the largest agencies (Immigration, Health and Ageing, DEEWR and Innovation) achieved the July 2012 copier/printer-to-desktop ratio target.
Progress is mixed. Excluding Immigration (which did not provide paper-use data), three large agencies—Defence, Human Services and DEEWR—had not yet achieved the July 2012 paper-use target. Their current use rates were about 18, 15.4 and 14 reams per employee respectively, above the 13-ream target.
Decommissioning means removing existing desktops or laptops from service without replacing them. For example, DEEWR is decommissioning more than 1,000 desktops and 300 laptops and expects this activity to result in a projected ratio of about 1.39 devices per user by July 2013, reducing overall device counts per employee.
Yes. The article notes that a mid-term review of the Australian Government ICT Sustainability Plan 2010–15 is understood to be under way to assess progress against the plan's targets.
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