Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
is trying to consolidate hundreds of data centres
into a few large ones. Figure 5 learns that for
computer hosting organizations and their custom-
ers, the measuring of energy consumption is a
matter of course. Computer hosting organizations
such as Telecity and KPN Getronics are charging
the use of floor space and energy consumption
separately. If necessary, the energy consumption
can be specified for each device. Under normal
circumstances, demands to the availability of
facilities, result in at least one device of the same
type as the device in use being on standby (figure
5).
The last and certainly not least important point
concerns small sustainability (figure 8). This small
sustainability is encountered at workstation level
across the entire organization. In various loca-
tions in data centres, one has to deal with ICT
hardware such as telephones, personal computers
(PCs), notebooks and printers. In every organiza-
tion that was studied, the cathode ray tubes have
by now been replaced by more energy friendly
liquid crystal displays (LCD's). In a number of
organizations double sided printing and com-
pulsory use of the departmental printer has been
introduced. At Rabo Bank, the reuse of notebooks
and mobile phones is standard. This bank has a
separate organization unit that enables this reuse.
It also turns out that employees are increasingly
more aware of the effect that the use of ICT has
on the environment, even if this is sometimes just
because of the frequent awareness campaigns
as seen on television and as well as within the
organization. Users of ICT can play their role by
having a careful attitude with regard to the use
of energy and attention for use of materials that
can be recycled.
In many organizations, lights out data centres
are used. These data centres are remote controlled.
They are cooled down to a suitable selected tem-
perature, which is not too low (see figure 7).
The answers are variable, when asked about
the location of hardware based on energy con-
sumption.
With regard to this, it is noticeable that the use
of hot and cold corridors as well as the covering
of cable channels is often omitted (figure 5).
Figure 6 deals with the ICT equipment them-
selves. Figure 6 shows that in 2009, consolidation
and virtualisation of ICT provisions is the done
thing. This consolidation and virtualisation is
often goes hand in hand with the standardization
of applications and infrastructure. The consoli-
dation process runs parallel with concentration
towards a smaller number of data centres. In the
Netherlands, this process has been started in the
last few years. Virtualisation for the benefit of
servers and storage capacity runs parallel to this.
In general, renewal of hardware does not take
place until an entirely new data centre is installed
or when the depreciation period finishes. From
the interviews, it transpired that when purchasing
new hardware, the costs are often the clinching
argument. More modern hardware so it appears,
is not considered until the economic lifespan of
the hardware has expired. New cooling methods
are especially discussed when a new data centre
is started. Closer examination of figure 6 confirms
that the use of new hardware that uses less energy
is given little attention. The deployment of blade
servers has only recently and gradually become
something worth considering.
Consulting about Sustainability of
Data Centres
When advising on sustainability, the study is aimed
at the availability of indicators and measurement
data and at the use of measurement data in the
advice. Next, we will discuss the availability of
indicators as well as the use of measurement data
as stored in a database in advising on sustainability.
Indicators and Key Performance
Indicators Used
The indicators as used by consultants when making
