The threat of a recession shouldn't deter companies from pursuing green IT efforts or else they will lose out on the economic benefits, Gartner warned in a new report.

In the report, "Cutting Back on Green PC Initiatives Leads to False Economies," the research firm advised companies to move forward with green IT initiatives, especially those that lead to power savings, which can have a near-term impact on the bottom line.

Companies "need to pursue these low-risk initiatives as they often provide quick returns that are especially attractive in a cost-cutting environment," said Steve Kleynhans, Gartner research vice president. "Green PC initiatives typically do not add significantly to ongoing operational costs, and the small upfront costs associated with them are usually easily recovered 12 to 18 months after the program begins."

The company recommends four areas where companies can realize green IT cost savings. First, Gartner advises that businesses look for eco-friendly labels on new computers in order to enjoy power consumption savings of 20 percent or more.

Activating low power state settings for computing fleets costs nothing but can yield big savings. Recycling old equipment could also produce revenue that can offset the capital expense of new equipment.

Finally, Gartner recommends implementing programs that drive resource reductions in other areas, such as travel and commuting, since "efficient (IT) users tend to be green users."