LONDON, United Kingdom — Rather than slowing down company plans for making their IT departments more energy efficient and environmentally friendly, nearly two-thirds of companies say that the current state of the global economy is making cost-saving green IT measures even more appealing.

That is among the findings of a survey released at the Storage Expo conference in London this week. Seventy percent of the 513 respondents rated green IT projects a priority if it also saved money, and 4 percent said that even were there no cost savings involved their organizations would continue to pursue environmental computing strategies. Just 10 percent  of respondents had cut their green IT projects as a result of budgetary concerns.

"The credit crunch has made a number of businesses rethink their IT strategies and budgets. However contrary to what most companies think green IT and beating the credit crunch can go hand in hand if the right strategy is used," said Natalie Booth, the event manager for Storage Expo 2008.

"The underlying motivating factor for green IT has always been saving money, whereas before they've dressed it up in environmental concerns. However, with our more troubled economic times firms can freely admit to their true colours," René Millman, a senior research analyst at Gartner, told VNUNet.