Wondering if the “green” efforts many companies are touting these days actually have any impact? A new study released this week is the first to put hard numbers behind those efforts to help the environment.

Its findings: Changes in the way people and businesses use technology could reduce annual man-made global emissions by 15 per cent by 2020 and deliver energy efficiency savings to global businesses of over $800 billion, according to a new report published today by independent non-profit The °Climate Group and the Global e-Sustainability Initiative (GeSI).

That’s enough money for at least one U.S.-style industry bailout.

The report –- SMART 2020: Enabling the low carbon economy in the information age –- is the world’s first comprehensive global study of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector’s growing significance for the world’s climate.

The report’s supporting analysis, conducted independently by international management consultants McKinsey & Company, shows that while ICT’s own sector footprint — currently two per cent of global emissions — will almost double by 2020, ICT’s unique ability to monitor and maximise energy efficiency both within and outside of its own sector could cut CO₂ emissions by up to five times this amount.

This represents a saving of 7.8 Giga-tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (GtCO₂e) by 2020 -– greater than the current annual emissions of either the US or China.

Tags: business, green, Smart2020, study, technology