The trends toward internet based services, cloud computing and centrally stored data means server numbers are increasing, as is electricity use and therefore CO2 emissions. U.S. data centers used 61 billion kWh of electricity in 2006, representing 1.5% of all U.S. electricity consumption and double the amount consumed in 2000. We can no longer deny that server energy consumption is a problem, and one that’s only getting worse. The good news is that there is now a solution for organisations that want to do something about it.
In a company with 1,000 servers, you could save up to one million dollars by optimizing server usage, controlling sprawl and actively reducing the need for power and cooling.
There are 44 million servers in the world each costing organizations several thousand dollars to run every year. The traditional IT requirements of availability and performance have led to surplus capacity and wastage which until now, has gone unseen.
“With U.S. data center energy consumption at an all time high, it’s only logical that we reconsider how we are using IT resources. An unnecessary amount of data servers are ‘plugged in’ 24/7 in an age when power-saving tools are available to businesses. Faced with a fast-moving regulatory environment - including the U.S. climate bill, pending EPA data center initiatives and the upcoming climate talks in Copenhagen - the U.S. IT sector may soon be under greater scrutiny for its power consumption. We’ll want to say ahead of the curve and make smart, energy-efficient changes where we can,”
Kateri Callahan, President of Alliance to Save Energy
Right now all computer servers worlwide devour more electricity than the entire demand from rance - and energy use is expected to double again in the next five years.Compared to best practice server technologies, about half of this energy goes to waste - enough to power Australia. A strict efficiency standard for servers could take 48 coal power plant off the grid - saving over 140 million tonnes of CO2 - GreenPeace Energy [r]evolution - A Sustainable World Energy Outlook