8 Ways to Make IT Greener

The fine folks at EDS have put together eight common sense tips to reducing the environmental impact of computing. Following these tips can extend the life of existing facilities and reduce the environmental impact of computing.

Virtualize Servers
The first option is to move from the "one application - one server" paradigm many organizations have fallen into. Server virtualization allows multiple applications to operate securely within the same physical server. Moving the current average server utilization from 15-20 percent to 80-90 percent allows fewer servers to do more work using the same energy profile.
Turn off Unused Servers
The easiest power to save is the power that isn't used. Servers and disk drives should be on only when they are needed, so sophisticated operating processes must be in place to bring servers back online whenever increased demands require them to do so.
Employ Power Saving Techniques
The third option is to employ power saving techniques now familiar to most laptop users. When demand allows it, organizations can run their servers at reduced speed which lessens their consumption of energy. In addition, an enterprise should always choose a server with the highest power supply efficiency available with the selected configuration.
Optimize Applications
The fourth option is to optimize applications being run in the data center. Bloated software, inefficient software, or even software that produces very little business value all need to be pruned, optimized and even discontinued to put a lesser load on servers.
Perform Rigorous Maintenance
The fifth option is more fundamental, but also very achievable. Data center managers can improve the efficiency of their facilities by rigorous maintenance to ensure all equipment is operating at the peak of efficiency as well as modifying layout and configuration of equipment to reduce cooling requirements. These and many more efficiency steps will increase overall data center efficiency and lower the carbon footprint.
Move to Higher Density, Multi-Core CPUs
The movement to newer, multi-core CPU designs will deliver significant efficiencies, because of their lower voltage requirements. Eight, 16, 24 and higher "processors on a chip" allow for fewer server blades in a rack driving up efficiencies and driving down electricity usage.
Pay More Attention to Operating the Infrastructure
We have become so accustomed to "cheap computing" that we have become lax in our process of procuring, deploying and operating the infrastructure upon which so much of our modern society depends. However, when an enterprise looks at total cost of ownership and electricity costs exceed the purchase price of a server, the equation shifts in favor of higher efficiency and rigor which is good for the bottom line as well as for the environment.
Cash in on Being Green
It is important to look for innovative applications of IT that makes real impacts for an enterprise and its customers. For example, an enterprise can use Dimmable Addressable Lighting Interface (DALI) in electronic ballasts networked to sophisticated lighting control software that reduces electrical usage by up to 40 percent, or use programmable thermostats and schedules to standardize the temperature, pressure, humidity and set points for occupied and unoccupied periods in all buildings. These technologies require integrated IT to function and provide a rapid return on investment. The world will see an explosion of IT being deployed as we move to a lower energy regime in new and existing buildings throughout society over the next several years. The business advantage of consuming less electricity reduces both the cost structure and carbon footprint of the enterprise, which is good for business and the planet.

Learn more about EDS' environmental sustainability program.

The experts at business continuity advice remind us that there are many disadvantages to using magnetic tapes for data backup. They don't mention explicitly that using online backups are a greener choice, but all of their advice re-enforces the notion that the green solution is the better solution.