Environmental Leader

According to a report from Accenture that analyzed results of case studies backed by the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, existing data centers can achieve energy efficiency close to that of new centers designed for energy efficiency, CNET reports.

At 74 percent efficiency, old data centers applying the EPA’s efficiency recommendations (PDF) presented to Congress in 2007 aren’t far behind new data centers that could be achieving 79 percent infrastructure efficiency.

Accenture pooled results of studies for its report in which Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and tech heavyweights including Yahoo, Sun, and Oracle collaborated. Preliminary results of the Accenture report are available here. The full report is due out July 11.

HP’s research arm HP Labs announced new sustainability research initiatives the company says will include an industry-first to reduce the carbon footprint of data centers by 75 percent.

Cisco said it would deploy a variety of techniques in its labs and data centers to cut its GHG emissions, including taking detailed measurements of energy flows, utilizing more efficient lab equipment, adding smart power-distribution units that automatically shut down machines not in use, and upgrading building mechanical and electrical systems.