This post on the subject of growing energy usage by data centers examining a recent report on how the rate of increase in the energy usage for data centers has been quite a bit lower than was predicted. It goes on to argue that the report may not be capturing the whole picture and that important areas of energy usage by data centers have not been factored into the report.
Looks at how replacing desktops with thin clients can save money and power for an organization. The post builds its case using step by step comparison of the computing resources usage scenarios and how these would layout in a thin client deployment versus a desktop deployment of a 5,000 workstation scenario.
Lays out the case for how using virtualization can save very significant amounts of energy, especially in large data centers. Breaks down resource requirements in terms of RAM, storage and ultimately cooling for a stand alone server configuration and a comparable virtualization configuration and builds a case for why and how virtualization can significantly reduce energy usage requirements for data centers.
This post explores the concept of an end-to-end ‘green’ power, water, and community eco-system based around mega-watt scale power and cooling requirements in a real world environment of limited financial resources and stringent system availability requirements. It suggests that huge power hungry data centers should consider incorporating on-site biomass electricity generation as an integral part of their operations systems.
In this post Julius discusses some of the innovations that are cropping up in forward thinking data center design ranging from the adoption of Yahoo’s chicken coop architecture that is suited for utilizing ambient air cooling; new server designs optimized for hot aisle/cold aisle architecture; and innovative approaches to power supply. While most operators do not have the deep pockets and resources of players like Facebook, Google, Yahoo or Amazon — all mentioned in this post — the kinds of forward thinking innovations being pioneered by these companies are bound to have a wider impact.
Building a green data center is a challenging undertaking; it is also one that is poorly understood and that can fail in many ways. This post goes into some of the deeper level goals that need to be kept in focus if the project is going to be a success.
As the nation seemingly and slowly pulls out from deep recession there is indication that cleantech sector employment is helping to lift some areas of the country and is starting to provide some jobs in what has been a painfully jobless “recovery” for far too many. This post, by John Addison focuses on some areas of his home state of California that are helping to drive the California economy and boosting jobs growth.
The first wave of green IT solutions failed to make sustainability benefits tangible according to a new study conducted on the sector by the independent research firm Verdantix. However, innovative IT sustainability solutions just released into the market or on the horizon for 2010 – will quickly demonstrate the tech sector’s role in supporting corporate sustainability strategies.
