Strategies for Data Center Energy Efficiency

PUE (Power usage effectiveness) is a crucial metric in assessing data center energy efficiency. It measures the ratio of total facility energy to IT equipment energy, indicating how much power is utilized by computing equipment. A PUE value of 1 signifies optimal efficiency, where all power entering the data center is used for IT equipment. Understanding a data center's energy consumption is essential for reducing power consumption and operating costs. By minimizing overhead, data center managers can achieve cost-effective operation and lower overall expenses.

2. Google recommends five methods for reducing power consumption:

• Measure PUE: Ensure instrumentation is ready to work, aim to get PUE close to 1.0, and measure PUE frequently. PUE measures non-computing overhead energy compared to energy used for machines.
• Focus on air flow management: Eliminate mixing of hot and cold air, increase cold aisle temperature, and maintain good air flow for efficient data center operation.
• Use blanking panels to close off empty rack slots and prevent hot aisle air from entering the cold aisle, along with plastic curtains for areas with components that run hot.
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• Adjust thermostat: Control heating or cooling systems to maintain the right temperature for healthy server and computer function.

Google implements several strategies to maintain the system's temperature near a desired set point while reducing energy use significantly. These strategies include eliminating energy-intensive air conditioning by raising the cold aisle of the data center to 80◦F or higher, utilizing free cooling methods like cold outside air, water evaporation, or thermal reservoirs, and optimizing power distribution by using high-efficiency power supplies and minimizing power conversion steps.

By implementing these strategies, Google is able to reduce energy consumption and costs effectively.

3% of the world's global greenhouse gases come from computing, with approximately 2% attributed to global greenhouse gas emissions. Within this percentage, data centers account for 15% and large internet data centers make up 5%.

Several factors impact data center power consumption globally and in the United States. Factors that accelerate power consumption include cloud computing, advancements in IT, and streaming. Factors that can reduce power consumption include air management, chillers, and virtualization, which allows servers to perform multiple tasks at once. Distributing data centers worldwide can also affect power consumption. Data center power consumption is typically high in developed countries where major data centers are located, but companies are now choosing locations with lower ambient temperatures such as Iceland and Scandinavia to reduce energy usage. Google, a leading industry player in data center efficiency, has data centers in North America and Europe and takes steps to share energy efficient practices with others in the industry.

Government or industry associations have been recommended to regulate carbon emissions in the data center industry, similar to other industries. This regulatory approach would emphasize the importance of environmentally friendly practices and emission reduction for companies. The Environmental Protection Agency forecasted a doubling of data centers' power needs from 2005 to 2010. Online e-commerce companies have a strong motivation to decrease power usage in their data centers. Moreover, competition among major data center providers drives them to help customers adopt cost-saving "green" practices.

(2) Two sources discussing the relationship between data centers in companies and the concept of "greening" a company.

Volvo is promoting environmental sustainability by utilizing Unified Communications. (Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BA4QZe-SsCk)

Microsoft has been focusing on creating the most energy-efficient place in the world for the past five to six years. Their commitment towards Africa led them to ensure they deliver a clean and sustainable environment. They have developed innovative solutions like recital transactions that utilize outside air, pure hydro-electric power, and facility power costs ecologically. Microsoft has set a benchmark in promoting energy efficiency by sharing their experiences with customers and competitors.

Greening IBM's Demo Central datacenter with energy management solutions (Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZg_Ow1jtjQ)
The data center they built is one of the most instrumented in the world, measuring air velocity, power, flow rates, and voltages. It serves as a test bed for trying and optimizing technologies in real time rather than for production. IBM contributed over $5 million in software and design services. Trigeneration, using natural gas to generate electricity, heating, and cooling, is one of its most efficient features. IBM and Syracuse University will share knowledge gained from the new operation to educate clients on sustainability in data centers and buildings. The energy use modeling process applies not only to data centers but also to buildings in general.

Homework C - Friedman 4 flatteners
1. Outsourcing: Outsourcing is a common way for companies to hire efficient employees at a profitable cost.
2. Offshoring: Another reason for the world becoming flat is offshoring, where a big country establishes factories in other countries.
3. Supply-chaining: Supply Chaining involves horizontal collaboration among suppliers, retailers, and customers to create value, introducing standard protocols and leveling the playing field for different companies.
4. Insourcing: Insourcing helps small companies grow and compete with big businesses by reducing delivery and processing times.