Today marks the 50th anniversary of celebrating Earth Day, an international initiative launching 24 hours of action and long-term activism in the name of environmental protection and sustainability. With the impact of global warming top of mind, 55 percent of Americans are worried about climate change and feel responsible for creating a more sustainable world. As businesses often reflect and support cultural change, it’s no surprise that many companies are also committed to considerably reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

With IT’s electricity consumption accounting for 10 percent of all business electricity and greenhouse emissions, IT leaders find themselves at the forefront of environmental sustainability practices. Fortunately, a significant amount of IT’s consumption can be mitigated through the cloud, reducing carbon footprint while supporting security and user experience. Here are four ways:

Allow for Low-Energy Endpoints

Cloud-based services allow restriction-free end-user device selection, meaning that environmentally conscious employees may choose low-energy devices to save electricity, potentially reducing end-user computing device emissions by 90 annually annually.

Tip: Pick a unified endpoint management solution to simplify device management while at the same time boosting user experience.

Reduce Commuting Emissions

Moving to the cloud allows for secure and flexible working options. By increasing local/work-from-home options, IT is able to decrease commuting emissions while attracting top talent and driving cost control of devices and real estate.

Check out our new e-book on remote work’s impact on sustainability.

Reduce Data Center Inefficiency

Did you know that some data centers are 40 percent inefficient? Inefficient data centers have significant impact on IT’s total energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Carbon-zero cloud computing allows for delivery from a more efficient data center. For example, AWS customers need only 16 percent of the power compared to on-prem infrastructure while Azure (powered by 100 percent renewable energy) is 44 percent more efficient than the average on-prem.

Tip: Provide SSO access to the cloud for end users to boost productivity and engagement.

Extend the Lifespan of End-User Devices

By extending the lifespan of end-user devices by two extra years through virtual apps and desktops, IT can decrease the amount of emissions generated by manufacturing new devices.

Tip: Go beyond simple app delivery to a unified platform that delivers everything you need for security, productivity, and flexibility — all in one place.

In addition to maximizing climate impact, businesses may find that they can drive positive bottom-line results through more productive, engaged workers.

See how Citrix Workspace and Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops can help you achieve sustainability goals without compromising security or a flexible user experience. Let’s build a better future together.