What Is a Green IT Certification? 5 Options to Consider for You and Your Business

Green information technology (IT), sometimes referred to as green computing, is a practice of IT that focuses on the sustainable management, manufacture, and disposal of computing products. Computers, servers, and chips use lots of energy and require many raw materials to produce, so green IT practices look to minimize energy usage while maximizing a product’s life span. 

Learn more about green IT, why it's important to introduce sustainability into IT, and some certifications you can earn to develop new skills in sustainable practices. 

Why is green IT important?

The estimated global share of carbon emissions from the internet and communication technology (ICT) sector ranges from 1.5 to 4 percent [1]. Fortunately, you can help combat climate change while working in information technology (IT) with a green IT certification. 

With the expected increased use of artificial intelligence (AI), the strain on the energy grid grows with the increase in data centers needed to train AI models—especially since constructing a new data center takes two to three years while adding electric infrastructure takes four or more years [2]. By earning a green IT certification, you can become part of the solution by learning how to create energy-efficient hardware, infrastructure, and energy production for the IT sector.

What are green IT standards?

One of the first green IT standards was the Energy Star certification program created by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to help businesses protect the environment while remaining profitable [3]. While a formal list of green IT standards doesn’t exist, some principles that businesses are developing include:

• Creating monitoring and sustainability tools to measure power consumption, power usage effectiveness (PUE), and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions

• Examining the entire logistics chain to learn about the carbon emissions of their providers and opting for eco-friendly partners 

• Setting a series of sustainable goals and protocols, meaning IT companies need to monitor, partner with an environmental agency or group, and set aggressive PUE goals 

• Recycling, reusing, or refurbishing old electronics to prevent e-waste and using a certified vendor from the EPA when it’s necessary to dispose of used electronics

What is a green IT certification?

Green IT certification gives you formal training in sustainability practices when it comes to computers, technology, and data centers. It’s important to note that you can encourage sustainability practices in your business or data center without certification, but it can give you the skills to understand its importance, the complex processes in place, and how you can make an impact. 

Green technology example: LEED certification

While not directly a green IT certification, one certification to consider is a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) credential. These certifications showcase your skills and understanding of green building practices, energy use, and design. A popular first choice is the LEED Green Associate, which measures your basic knowledge of green building principles. The exam has 100 multiple-choice questions and costs $250 [4]. 

Green Computing Training—Developing Energy-Efficient Algorithms and Hardware

Cost: Contact the provider for more information [5].

Requirements: No prerequisites

The Green Computing Training from Technology and Management Training Courses and Seminars (TONEX) helps you gain skills in developing energy-efficient software and hardware, and minimizing energy use while maintaining computing performance. Topics covered include green computing principles, techniques for developing energy-efficient hardware and software, and how to assess the environmental impact of information technology. 

IFGICT Green IT Professional

Cost: $250 [6]

Requirements: No prerequisites

The Green IT Professional certification from the International Federation of Global and Green Information Communication Technology (IFGICT) demonstrates your skills in green IT. It focuses on reducing the environmental impact of IT while driving sustainable building practices. The course helps you learn skills in strategies, lifecycle management, environmental management systems auditing, greenhouse gas emissions, and green IT standards. 

Green Software for Practitioners (LFC131)

Cost: $0 [7]

Requirements: No prerequisites

The Green Software for Practitioners course from the Linux Foundation can help you learn green software principles to create more efficient applications. It starts by defining green principles and shows you how to apply them to software development. It explores terms like carbon efficiency, energy efficiency, carbon awareness, hardware efficiency, and climate commitment. 

IFGICT Sustainable Development Goals Manager Certification (SDGM)

Cost: $250 covers course materials, exam, and certification [8]

Requirements: Bachelor’s degree recommended

The Sustainable Development Goals Manager Certification demonstrates your skills in developing and implementing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for businesses. You can learn the SDG principles that the United Nations (UN) uses to help organizations meet these goals. Some principles you’ll explore include:

• The effects of climate change

• The current UN 2030 Agenda

• All 17 SDGs and their 169 targets

• How to monitor SDGs using key metrics

• How to implement strategies to meet these goals

IFGICT Green ICT Standard Certification

The Green ICT Standard is a certification that businesses can earn from IFGICT to demonstrate their organization’s commitment to sustainability. To earn certification, a committee at IFGICT will audit your ICT sustainability principles. The audit process is as follows:

1. Determine the scope of the audit with IFGICT professionals. 

2. The auditors will examine company procedures, reviews, and policies and perform inspections. 

3. They compare their review to the IFGICT Standard practices and identify areas of improvement. 

4. You’ll receive a list of improvements that your organization should create a plan to address. 

Some of the IFGICT Standards include proper waste management, energy efficiency, sustainable supply chains, and green data center principles. After passing the audit, you’ll receive your certification. 

Jobs that can benefit from a green IT certification

Formal certification in green IT can help you advance your career, gain new skills, and put sustainability principles into practice. Explore three IT careers that may require green IT certification, their average annual salaries, and estimated job outlook. 

Network engineer

Average annual salary (Glassdoor): $121,741 [9]

Job outlook (projected growth from 2023 to 2033): 13 percent [10]

Network engineers create, plan, and maintain computer networks. They configure the network, install equipment, and manage the network after its installation. They can impact sustainability by choosing energy-efficient equipment, examining infrastructure, and reducing waste. 

Data center manager

Average annual salary (Glassdoor): $180,4841 [11]

Job outlook (projected growth from 2023 to 2033): 17 percent [12]

Data center managers direct the entire IT staff within a data center and purchase, monitor, and repair existing equipment. Data center systems and storage are key areas where GHGs and energy can be cut. 

Sustainability manager

Average annual salary (Glassdoor): $131,235 [13]

Job outlook (projected growth from 2023 to 2033): 6 percent [14]

Sustainability managers work with other members of the management team and stakeholders to create policies and procedures and monitor goal metrics. They manage the intersection of environmental sustainability, reducing emissions, and economic goals. 

Prepare for IT certification on Coursera

Earning a green IT certification and learning about sustainability principles are important ways you and your business can contribute to protecting the planet. If you want to build in-demand skills in IT, try the Google IT Support Professional Certificate on Coursera.