The IT Nerd

Earth Day is an annual event on April 22 to demonstrate support for environmental protection. First held on April 22, 1970, it now includes a wide range of events coordinated globally through earthday.org. As Earth Day is today, I wanted to share some insights from leaders at Leaseweb Canada, Cubic Transportation Systems, StorMagic, Context Labs, and Leaseweb USA.  

Roger Brulotte, CEO, Leaseweb Canada 

“As companies around the world reflect on their environmental impact, it’s a good time to ask: how sustainable is your IT infrastructure? 

We believe Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) isn’t just about performance and scalability—it’s also about responsibility. By consolidating workloads in high-efficiency data centers, powered increasingly by renewable energy, IaaS can help reduce your carbon footprint compared to on-premises infrastructure. 

Plus, smart usage means fewer idle servers, better resource allocation, and lower energy waste. 

Green IT isn’t a buzzword—it’s a strategic shift. On this Earth Day, let’s take a moment to recognize the role digital infrastructure plays in shaping a more sustainable future, supported by IaaS providers committed to helping businesses move toward more efficient, responsible cloud solutions. 

Let’s build a greener cloud together.” 

Nicole T. Brown, Vice President, Service Operations, Cubic Transportation Systems   

“As we celebrate Earth Day this year, it is important to remember that one of the most impactful ways we can contribute to the preservation of our planet is by being mindful of the environmental effects of our daily travel decisions. This can mean, whenever possible, opting to walk, cycle or utilize public transportation instead of driving alone in a car.   

However, this is not a responsibility that should be left up to individuals alone. State and local governments, as well as transit agencies, play an equally important role in funding, encouraging and creating easily accessible means of transportation. Typically, government funding favors roads rather than supporting infrastructure for mixed-use public transit. To encourage public transit as everyone’s first choice method of transportation, we need to be putting these funds towards providing shared, convenient, climate-friendly options for passengers that will ultimately help us protect our planet.” 

Maarten Odding, CFO, StorMagic 

“As Earth Day approaches on April 22, it’s crucial to recognize the growing pressure on companies to cut emissions and make IT infrastructure more sustainable. With more companies striving to achieve SBTi approval and reduce emissions, the need for effective, affordable, and energy-efficient solutions has never been greater. 

More companies are adopting increased climate accountability measures and reporting their own emissions, as well as those from their suppliers and customers. These companies prioritize working with suppliers who share their goals and sustainability commitments and are open about their progress. Some ways organizations can reduce their carbon footprint include: 

• Increasing the use of renewable energy for direct energy requirements 
• Reducing their infrastructure components, through platform consolidation, multi-tenancy, or virtualization 
• Deploying power-efficient IT infrastructure components 
• Reducing energy usage with software-defined storage 

With a growing focus on climate accountability, technology plays a central role in driving sustainability. As businesses align with climate science and set ambitious targets, there’s a shared responsibility to create solutions that reduce environmental impact and accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy.” 

Dan Harple, CEO, Context Labs  

“To commemorate Earth Day, we must commit to properly addressing the pressing issue of methane emissions across the global energy supply chain. Methane, a potent greenhouse gas, has over 80 times the heat-trapping potential of carbon dioxide over a 20-year period. In a global economy that is 80% powered by traditional hydrocarbon energy sources, it remains crucial to have a precise understanding of where and how methane emissions are occurring. Eliminating leaks from oil, gas, and coal production, as well as during transport and distribution, can significantly contribute to climate change mitigation efforts.   

On this Earth Day, let us embrace the advancements in technology and support the energy industry to properly address methane emissions. By embracing innovative solutions, we can collectively work towards a more sustainable and decarbonized future, contributing to the global effort to decelerate climate change and protect the planet we live on.” 

Richard Copeland, CEO, Leaseweb USA 

“For leaders and decision-makers, keeping sustainability within operations and organizational core values as a focal point is imperative. Earth Day reminds everyone of our shared responsibility to protect the planet, but it’s crucial that sustainable practices remain a priority year-round. 

Organizations can limit their carbon footprint through the right IaaS provider. Computing, storage, and networking are huge energy consumers and contribute negatively to the environment. However, with the right IaaS partner that works with sustainability in mind, companies can rest assured that their resource-heavy operations are being properly managed within energy-efficient environments.  

This Earth Day, I would encourage decision-makers to look under the hood of their IT operations and consider how partnering with a responsible IaaS provider can help them meet their sustainability goals without compromising capabilities, security, and/or performance.” update

UPDATE: Freddy Kuo, Chairman, Luminys adds this:

“Sustainable energy isn’t just a goal—it’s essential for the future to reshape how the industries we serve protect critical environments and operate smarter and safer systems with connected technologies. The importance of reliable, eco-friendly power and intelligent monitoring systems is becoming more and more clear. These solutions are foundational to the success of delivering more connected and sustainable ecosystems globally and optimizing security integration with integrity.

Earth Day is a timely reminder that innovation needs to align with environmental obligation. The technologies we design today will define the impact we have tomorrow. Guided by efficiency, resilience, and sustainability, we can empower communities to support a future where built environments not only drive performance but also protect the planet.

The intersection of technology and sustainability is not just an opportunity—it’s a responsibility.”