Sustainable Technology

Google research looks to develop energy proportional data centers that throttle power based on network utilization.  The technique involves modifying the network topology and dynamically tuning network switches.  …

…   “the authors suggest several ways to build data center networks that use power in proportion to the volume of data being transmitted, rather than running at high-power during periods of both high and low utilization. ”   …

Via Information Week: Google data center research.

Use data center benchmarking to identify opportunities to improve energy-efficiency. Uptime Institute offers insights into energy efficiencies. …

… “This calculation multiplies the efficiency of one’s technology by the efficiency of the physical facility. Uptime calculates IT efficiency by multiplying a data center’s IT asset utilization rate by the energy efficiency of the servers. ” …

Via Computerworld: Benchmark data center energy costs

Developing your plan for greening the data center? Understand your energy efficiency improvement by establishing the baseline measurement systems now. Expect benefits to go beyond energy and look for increased asset utilization and intangible improvements. …

… “Measure first, green second. Measure your data center’s energy consumption before enacting any green or energy efficient projects. One hundred percent accuracy isn’t required … ” …

Via Forrester Research: IT Infrastructure & Operations Professionals

HP introduces storage technology that reduces storage array power and cooling costs in data centers significantly. The new product offerings include thin provisioning for the storage arrays, tape drives based on the LTO4 standard, and new DAT tape drives. …

… “The HP StorageWorks EVA4100, 6100 and 8100 midrange disk arrays improve power efficiency for customers by up to 45 percent compared to previous EVAs, with performance improvements of up to 24 percent. Using advanced hardware and software technologies such as EVA Dynamic Capacity Management (DCM), Vsnap and FATA disk drives, the new EVAs help customers optimize hard drive utilization, eliminate unnecessary HDD storage disk purchases, shrink their carbon footprint and efficiently manage IT resources and storage provisioning tasks. ” …

Via HP: Storage Cuts Power and Cooling Costs in Half

Symantec shares insights on the realization of benefits from server virtualization. …

UK government sets green IT strategy into motion. Objectives for greening information technology include understanding the carbon impact of new investments with a target of carbon neutral and taking a lifecycle view of new IT assets. The government will pursue power management for active devices and use virtualization to drive capacity utilization rates much higher. …

… “The Greening Government ICT strategy sets out the first steps we can take to reduce our carbon footprint. We are the first government in the world to look at our ICT in this way and we want to see changes taking place immediately. We want to see best green practice throughout government – computers switched off overnight, printers defaulting to duplex, data centres efficiently cooled. The good news is that we are not alone in aiming for these goals. There is already a great deal of activity in departments and within industry and we will be working with our suppliers to ensure that action is taken immediately. ” …

Via UK Cabinet Office: Greening Government ICT (PDF)