ICT Could Cut U.S. Emissions by 22 Percent, Save Billions

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OAKLAND, Calif. -- Properly deployed information and communications technology (ICT) could cut U.S.-based carbon dioxide emissions by as much as 22 percent by 2020, according to new research.

ICT could also save the country up to $240 billion in gross energy and fuel costs, according to the Boston Consulting Group and The Climate Group. The organizations unveiled the U.S. addendum to a previously released report called "SMART 2020: Enabling the low carbon economy in the information age," which used a global scope.

The original report found that ICT's global carbon footprint could nearly double by 2020, but it has the potential to help other sectors cut emissions up to five times that amount. An examination of opportunities in the U.S. focused on four areas of technology that already exist: A smart electrical grid, efficient road transportation, smart buildings, and travel substitution.

A smart electrical grid and more efficient road transportation have the potential to tamp down two large sources of emissions. A smart grid, for example, could cut emissions by as much as 480 million metric tons and same up to $35 billion in energy and fuel costs. More efficient road transportation could trim nearly as much emissions and save another $115 billion and trim nearly as much emissions.

Smart buildings and travel substitution, such as virtual meetings and flex-work, could combined avoid nearly 500 million metric tons of CO2 and save the U.S. up to $170 billion.  

The report also calls on the federal government to recognize ICT's role in combating climate change, much the same as Japan and Europe already has done. A national body to establish CO2 standards and metrics could coordinate public-private collaboration, while the government also should encourage the widespread adoption of broadband and monetize carbon to reward energy efficiency and emissions reductions.

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