Environmental Leader

• Home
• News
• Features
• Columns
• Videos
• Charts
• Jobs

• Popular Topics
• Energy Efficiency
• Emissions
• Data Centers
• Facilities
• Carbon Finance
• Sustainability
• Water
• Supply Chain
• Smart Grid
• More Topics

  • Strategy & Leadership Contracts & Installations Fleets & Transportation Funding & Incentives CSR Reports Government

    Design Hi-Tech Pollution Climate Labels & Certifications Waste & Recycling

    Carbon Finance & Offsets Construction & Refitting Green Marketing Manufacturing Research Lighting

    Solar Energy Policy & Law Products & Planning Finance & Reporting Paper & Packaging Conventional Energy

    Clean Energy Workplace Efficiency Conservation Utilities ALL TOPICS

July 8, 2009

Data Center Efficiencies Wait in the Wings

For companies looking to slash their carbon footprint and gain energy efficiencies, the IT data center is a logical first choice.

From re-evaluating the equipment in place to complete overhauls in server strategy, companies are looking to the IT department to take up the slack in an otherwise down economy.

Here are some areas to find savings within data centers.

Hardware reassessment

Taking a good, long look at a company’s actual needs, versus what kind of equipment is in place, can result in savings of 5-10 percent, according to research from Gartner Inc., reports SearchDataCenter.com. Unnecessary or obsolete equipment can be eliminated.

Performing server “rationalization” can result in savings of $400 per server per year. Some of the newer chips are much more energy efficient and operate at higher tolerances for heat, allowing IT cold rooms to run a little warmer.

Virtualization

Using one server to run many workstations is a strategy that is finding favor in corporations, schools and various public settings.

In addition to less hardware, going to a virtualization strategy oftentimes means lower expenses for software, as well as increased control over when and how often individual workstations are powered down.

Heating up the data center

It’s counterintuitive to many IT managers to run a data center at temperatures as high as 24 degrees Celcius – or about 75 degrees Fahrenheit – but many of the newer server designs allow for equipment to run at higher temperatures.

Good hot-aisle/cold-aisle design can reduce cooling costs 30-40 percent, as well.

Implementing the strategy

To push through the necessary changes to create a more green or energy efficient IT department, there are several rules of thumb to keep in mind, according to IT World.

1. Communicate green plans throughout the company and appoint an energy czar.
2. Consolidate IT operations where possible, and virtualize as much as you can.
3. Install energy efficient cooling units. It’s not just getting the room to the right temperature, but how much energy you take to do so.
4. Measure and optimize. Know what effect you’re really having by using an outside auditor to check your progress. With the EPA working on green IT metrics, the job should get a little easier.
5. Implement efficient applications and deduplicate data. Compressing data by 20 percent means 20 percent less data storage is necessary, meaning that a company can operate a leaner data center.

Advertisers

Enhance Sustainability. Improve Profitability.

Learn how at the SAP Sustainability Resource Center. >>

Unclear about the EPA's new GHG Rule?

Learn how it could affect your business. >>

EPA mandatory emissions reporting starts Jan 1st

CSA Standards can help your organization get ready for compliance. Find out how. >>

Survey Results: Product Environmental Compliance Best Practices

How to achieve compliance at a significantly lower cost. Download the full report. >>

Privacy · About Us · Send a Story Tip · Advertise · RSS
© 2006-2009 Environmental Leader LLC. All rights reserved.