Green Datacenter Checklist

If you need some inspiration on where to start, this list will provide you with 9 avenues to go about reducing your IT expences.

1. Evaluate your energy efficiency.
Make sure you get the complete picture. This means you have to take into account the cost incurred on all parties supplying power to your IT infrastructure. Efficiency is a relative notion. Each component (CRAC, UPS, Servers, lighting) has more efficient alternatives, or can be replaced or made redundant by other technologies. This website is dedicated to information that can help you in this area.

2. Redesign your cooling system.
Server cooling has not had enough consideration in the past. Your primary concern is assumed to be with the continuous operation of your servers and infrastructure. Your cooling solution should play its part. This means cool doesn’t have to mean cold, your hardware may be able to stand higher temperatures than you thought possible. If you are interested in determining your real cooling requirements get in touch with us.

3. Reconsider your redundancy.
Redundant systems can consume more. Investing in precise determination of your power and cooling needs can be worthwile. Areas to look at redundancy also include storage. Deduplication can eliminate unnecessary disc storage and network traffic.

4. Virtualize your servers
Server virtualization is a hot trend at the moment. Virtualizing your servers can cut costboth because you will use less servers and because investment in new hardware and extra cooling is deferred. Virtualization reduces management overhead. Virtualization can not be applied in all situations, but if it can it will bring significant benefits.

5. Virtualize your storage.
Storage virtualization is old and new. Your storage solution should be deduplicated, with low redundancy and ‘dissipation’. Virtualizing strorage can help, also because it can allow dedicating cooling solution.

5. Virtualize your desktops
Desktop virtualization is reltively new. Using thin desktop clients and server based computing the energy and management overhead can be reduced. Thin clients ususally use 50% of norrmal desk top PCs, are more quite and less expensive.

6. Use Energy Star-rated appliances.
Although the EPA hasn’t yet released Energy Star standards for data servers, you can purchase other appliances, such as cooling systems, that do meet current standards. Keep an eye on the industry — new star ratings are due for desktop computers in July, and the EPA may also enforce star ratings for data center appliances sometime in the next year. Good power management can make a significant impact. A server management tool that shuts down underutilized servers or using the enregy management options can cut cost by 10% instantly.

7. Donate or recycle legacy servers.
The computing power per Watt has gone up in recent years. This means holding on to legacy servers can be wastefull in terms of productivity. Geting rid of them should be done carefully as electronic equipment is high on toxig metals and chemicals. We will add pointers here so you can avoid your servers to ending up in africa.

8. Research alternative power sources.
The best way to stay clean is to find alternative energy that works for you. Photovoltaic systems are popular — solar panels on your roof are a simple step and will reduce your dependence on the power grid. Other options include wind energy, heat pumps, and evaporative cooling can lower your cost and significantly reduce your company’s environmental footprint.

10. Get your management involved.
Green IT and energy cost cutting involves the whole of an organization. Misinformation about risks and opportunities can skew management opinion agianst beneficial changes. Make sure you get everyone on board and have the materials to convince sceptics.

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