How to Foster Green It in Saudi Arabia Higher Education

The adverse environmental effects attributed to the phenomenon of global warming have led to a global tectonic shift to green technologies. Subsequently, various studies have been conducted around the world to assess the level of awareness of “Green IT.” This study explores the level of awareness, practice, and adoption of Green IT among staff members and students drawn from 3 universities in Saudi Arabia. The purpose of this study is to provide answers to the questions raised above. The paper will specifically explore the level of IT penetration in Saudi Universities and the impact it has on the lives of computer users. The paper will also assess the level of Green Computing awareness among the IT users in the country. Moreover, it will provide recommendations on strategies that can be adopted to facilitate the effective implementation of Green Computing in Saudi Universities. The paper achieved its objectives by collecting data on the entrenchment and popularity of IT technology among students in institutions of higher education in Saudi Arabia. The study employed interview questions to collect data on the level of awareness of environmental sustainability of Green Computing and the negative effects of IT. The study established that there is a knowledge gap among the IT users in Saudi on the efficacy of green technologies and the associated gadget in optimizing the computational needs. The study observed that a high level of awareness on Green Computing has the potential to trigger behavioral change while at the same time increasing the entrenchment of Green Computing in Saudi Arabia.