http://www.datacenterdynamics.com/ME2/Console/XmlSyndication/Display/RSS.asp?xsid=7B2B5C26D9D046108AB57E5171B5E2A3 George Rockett's Blog http://www.datacenterdynamics.com/ME2/Audiences/dirmod.asp?sid=&nm=&AudID=E5BD2FF22AF74DF3A0D5F4E519A61511&type=Blog&mod=View+Topic&mid=67D6564029914AD3B204AD35D8F5F780&tier=7&id=F4CB8F572AE94471AD97704439DEA458 So what’s the carbon impact of a rack? A vendor recently told me that they had been asked to calculate the carbon footprint that had been used in the manufacture and transportation to site of one of their racks. The organisation asking this question was making it mandatory across all product lines coming into their data centre. I’m guessing the major server manufacturers are already working on this. I know Corning has demonstrated, with great impact, the difference in carbon cost of digging for copper versus producing fibre optic (glass). Supply chains can be complex as we take into account all materials used. It starts becoming even more complicated when the EMBODIED carbon of the product is divided by its useful lifetime: a server 2-3 years, a UPS 10-12, a genset 15-20 years. AND how recyclable are they? So how much embodied carbon is there in your data centre? And how does that compare to the amount of carbon it will use over its life time? I’m thinking another PUE type formula here............surely some clever clogs is working on a software programme to help.........anybody? Mon, 12 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EST F4CB8F572AE94471AD97704439DEA458 It starts becoming even more complicated when the EMBODIED carbon of the product is divided by its useful lifetime: a server 2-3 years, a UPS 10-12, a genset 15-20 years. AND how recyclable are they?
So how much embodied carbon is there in your data centre? And how does that compare to the amount of carbon it will use over its life time? I’m thinking another PUE type formula here............surely some clever clogs is working on a software programme to help.........anybody? ]]> http://www.datacenterdynamics.com/ME2/Audiences/dirmod.asp?sid=&nm=&AudID=E5BD2FF22AF74DF3A0D5F4E519A61511&type=Blog&mod=View+Topic&mid=67D6564029914AD3B204AD35D8F5F780&tier=7&id=939B5D3DCC234B5D9A7077601A4F6076 I have been in Jo'Burg and Sao Paolo within the last month attending DCD conferences, and at both, Don Beaty (of ASHRAE TC9.9 fame) has repeated his 'Top Tip #4' for improving data center efficiency - Quote: "Operate your data centers at temperatures at a MINIMUM of 24 to 27 degrees to SAVE energy without impacting performance"! Great tip! But this isn't a new idea. Some of the industries early adopters have argued this for many years. Indeed, in early 2006 when the EPA first became involved in our conferences, I remember an early message was that raising the set-point temperature alone in data centers to 25c could save millions of tons of carbon (exact figures forgotten). So why is the data center industry slow to change? Reason #1: Mission critical thinking is ALL about being conservative - for years uptime has been the measure of success, so why try anything new that MIGHT negatively impact infrastructure availability. There is a dichotomy here between efficiency and availability. Wed, 07 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EST 939B5D3DCC234B5D9A7077601A4F6076 Great tip! But this isn't a new idea. Some of the industries early adopters have argued this for many years. Indeed, in early 2006 when the EPA first became involved in our conferences, I remember an early message was that raising the set-point temperature alone in data centers to 25c could save millions of tons of carbon (exact figures forgotten).
So why is the data center industry slow to change? Reason #1: Mission critical thinking is ALL about being conservative - for years uptime has been the measure of success, so why try anything new that MIGHT negatively impact infrastructure availability. There is a dichotomy here between efficiency and availability.]]> http://www.datacenterdynamics.com/ME2/Audiences/dirmod.asp?sid=&nm=&AudID=E5BD2FF22AF74DF3A0D5F4E519A61511&type=Blog&mod=View+Topic&mid=67D6564029914AD3B204AD35D8F5F780&tier=7&id=54003F0E87DD4EAB8109A639B31F5A3D Last week DatacenterDynamics hit Milan, with a first event attracting over 400 delegates. Wow ! I hear you say. We are in fact seeing a significant upturn in attendance at all DCD conferences this year (new and old): New York, Paris, Madrid, San Francisco......Certainly bucking the trend, which in part I will put down to the great DCD team behind the events. But I would say that of course. Many factors are of course conspiring, but I would like to talk about one in particular that has come to my attention – breathing space. Having spoken in recent months with many vendors as well as data center operators, I get the feeling that the ugly economic has created a window of opportunity to allow new technologies to be fully considered and properly evaluated. During the pre-downturn data center boom the industry was struggling to keep up with build out requirements, so sticking to tried and tested data center design methods was the least risky activity. This 'breathing space' is vital for the industry to move ahead and face its many challenges. Increased regulation + scarcity of resources + struggling economy = Innovative times ahead. Just thought it was about time to put a silver lining on the cloud (not that one). Thu, 07 May 2009 00:00:00 EST 54003F0E87DD4EAB8109A639B31F5A3D Having spoken in recent months with many vendors as well as data center operators, I get the feeling that the ugly economic has created a window of opportunity to allow new technologies to be fully considered and properly evaluated. During the pre-downturn data center boom the industry was struggling to keep up with build out requirements, so sticking to tried and tested data center design methods was the least risky activity. This 'breathing space' is vital for the industry to move ahead and face its many challenges.
Increased regulation + scarcity of resources + struggling economy = Innovative times ahead.
Just thought it was about time to put a silver lining on the cloud (not that one).]]> http://www.datacenterdynamics.com/ME2/Audiences/dirmod.asp?sid=&nm=&AudID=E5BD2FF22AF74DF3A0D5F4E519A61511&type=Blog&mod=View+Topic&mid=67D6564029914AD3B204AD35D8F5F780&tier=7&id=7CB00752A3B8490B8B60BB93E178737F I don’t want to say “I told you so!”. Wednesday 1st April event in London (3rd Annual DatacenterDynamics Energy Efficiency Summit) more than raised a few eyebrows on the potential impact of the UK Carbon Reduction Commitment (cap and trade) on the data center sector. Public listings of offenders, moving an industry offshore, certain service providers becoming carbon sinks, to name but a few of the concerns. And we are talking about a sector that organizations such at the WWF (World Wildlife Fund) believe could have the greatest positive impact on climate change! The is a disconnect here. The mechanisms to engage in dialogue with the UK government are there, it just needs INPUT from the industry. Starting point: get in contact with Intellect’s UKCDO (UK Council for Datacentre Owners) a lobby group formed explicitly to give the sector a voice and engage with the BCS (British Computer Society Datacentre Sector Group). One size DOES NOT fit all. Video recordings from Wednesday’s summit will be online in the next couple of weeks if you don’t believe me. Fri, 03 Apr 2009 00:00:00 EST 7CB00752A3B8490B8B60BB93E178737F