Energy Efficiency - Benefits

1. Saves money.

Gartner reports that "removing a single x86 server from a data center will result in savings of more than $400 a year in energy costs alone". In the same report, it says that business could identify 5% to 20% of the overall server count that can be reduced.

Research by the Pacific Research and Analysis says that on average:

• In a 1 year old data center, there are 10% idle/underutilized servers
• In a 2 year old data center, there are 20% Idle/underutilized servers
• In a 3 year old data center, there are 30% Idle/underutilized servers

Based on this analysis, in a 3 year old data center with 2000 servers, one could turn off 30% of idle/underutilized servers equaling 600 servers totaling $240,000 of energy costs a year.

How do you identify idle and underutilized servers?

ASHRAE has expanded the recommended data center temperature to 18 degrees Celsius to 27 degrees (64.4 degrees Fahrenheit to 80.6 degrees), expanded from 20 degrees to 25 degrees (68 degrees Fahrenheit to 77 degrees).

CRAC and CRAH units don't have to work as hard to maintain a certain temperature.

1% increase in temperature in the data center/lab decreases energy costs by 4%.

How do you increase your CRAC/CRAH units set up point and conserve energy without jeopardizing your IT assets?

2. Prevent premature and unnecessary capital expenditures.

Most data centers believe that they are out of power and cooling capacity. But those data centers with PUE numbers of 2.5 and higher can see efficiency and capacity gains by implementing energy efficiency tools. By doing so, major capital expenditures can be delayed or completely avoided.

3. Prevents loss of downtime.

The EPA estimates that 90% of companies will experience interruption of data center operations caused by power failure and limits on power availability. Being energy efficient can help ensure power availability and prevent unnecessary downtime and loss of revenue and productivity.

4. Avoid disruption to your data center operations and expensive retrofits caused by data center carbon emission regulations.

Government pressure is starting to escalate on environmental regulations. In February 2010, the Securities and Exchange Commission published a ruling on climate change that clarified reporting requirements it expects public companies to make regarding climate change legislation.

The SEC says that there has already been significant federal and state regulation around climate change. One example is the Environmental Protection Agency's requirement starting this year that large producers of greenhouse gases must collect and report data on their greenhouse gas emissions.

The ruling also indicates there will likely be more climate change legislation, such as a carbon cap-and-trade or tax program.

In February 2010, CA Governor Arnold Swarzenegger issued an executive order calling for a 30% reduction in IT energy use by all state Agencies by 2012.

In Europe, government has already mandated reductions in companies' carbon footprint.

Be prepared now to avoid costly mandatory retrofits and technology refresh in the future.

5. Earn bragging rights.

Have your data center rated by the EPA and awarded "Energy Star" status!

Find out how join Energy Star and get started now! Speak to a solution specialist today.

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