Arresting the Global Data-Center Carbon Footprint

(Photo: Hitachi Green Data Center Design)

Green tech seems to be the new hot thing: it is not only good karma but frequently it is also a good investment. Solar cars, hybrids, wind-energy, 95% recyclable Think electric car are all attracting investors more than consumers, and certainly attracting them before the consumers.

Data center energy needs have caught the eye not only as another green-tech idea but because of their very palpable financial threat: In 2005, 1% of the entire world’s electricity consumption was attributed to data centers alone. In a couple of decades the projections become quite scary both environmentally ( McKinsey study says “By 2020 the carbon footprint of the computers that run the Internet would be larger than that of air travel.”) as well as financially (Gartner study warns of a 1600% increase in data center energy costs between 2005 and 2025).

• » See also: Oceans’ Ability to Absorb Carbon & Protect Against Climate Change Weakening
• » Get EcoWorldly by RSS or sign up by email.

This has, undoubtedly, piqued not only the interest of tech-companies but also their imagination and innovativeness. Most ideas go beyond the cutting-edge and truly exemplify out of the box thinking; not only aiming for cost-reduction but intending to nullify them. On the pragmatic side, some of the ideas may not take-off. But then Leonardo da Vinci’s flying machine modelled beautifully after a bird’s wingspan never really took flight. That does not prevent us from admiring his imagination and it still leaves us in awe.

Different technology companies have been in news for their varied attempts to use nature’s bounties to their benefit. Google’s “sea-faring solution” — using tides or waves not only to cool but also to power its floating and mobile data-centers — is one in a long line to arouse admiration. Fujitsu has already registered some gains from hybrid cooling approach in Sydney. Hewlett-Packard has gone so far as to automate adjustments to allow for temperature and cost fine-tuning in their Dynamic Smart Cooling initiative. Many others have sought cooler climes to render cooling-costs nil: Fujitsu is seeking Perth and Telus is seeking Quebec for free-cooling 8 months each year; Microsoft pitched tent in outdoor Seattle and is also fearlessly exploring Siberian cold; and Sun is examining coal-mines in Japan.

(Photo: Sun Modular Data Center)

Many of these ideas are yet in early, exploratory phases. Several demand much new investment and often can’t be implemented overnight. But given the day-to- day and ever-expanding power-need and cost implications of data-centers, more instantaneous — albiet very simple –  ideas are receiving warm welcome. For example, learning from Microsoft and using Power Usage Effectiveness as a baseline to monitor and modify behavior or following ‘greening guidelines.’ Another very simple practice that is gaining ground is to raise datacenter temperature to reduce air-conditioning costs significantly. Sun, Hewlett-Packard and Google are all dabbling in this approach.

It has been a great beginning towards arresting the global carbon footprint of the data-centers, but it is just a beginning… Still a long way to attain the full power of green! A greener world and more green, green dollar bills in the pocket. Cheers to the Power of Green!

Image credit: “Hitachi Green Data Center” Courtsey Hitachi Data Systems via Flickr.com under a Creative Commons Licenseand  “Sun Modular Data Center”  Courtsey oimax via Flickr.com under a Creative Commons License.

Tweet This Post