The Importance of Energy Efficiency in IT Infrastructure
With the increasing demand for data centres and the rapid growth of digital technology, energy consumption by IT infrastructure has become a significant concern. The power consumption of IT equipment and data centres has a significant impact on the environment, as well as on the operational costs of organizations. In this blog post, we will discuss the importance of energy efficiency in IT infrastructure and how it can benefit organizations.
Source: U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency in Data Centers (https://www.energy.gov/eere/femp/energy-efficiency-data-centers)
Environmental Benefits
- One of the most significant benefits of energy-efficient IT infrastructure is the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Data centres alone are estimated to be responsible for 1-1.5% of global electricity consumption and 0.3% of global carbon emissions. Implementing energy-efficient practices can reduce the carbon footprint of IT infrastructure and help organizations achieve their sustainability goals.
Example: In 2020, Microsoft announced that it would be carbon negative by 2030, and part of its strategy included implementing energy-efficient practices in its data centres.
Cost Savings
- Energy-efficient IT infrastructure can also result in significant cost savings for organizations. By reducing energy consumption, organizations can lower their energy bills and operating costs. Additionally, implementing energy-efficient practices can extend the lifespan of IT equipment, reducing the need for frequent replacements.
Example: In 2021, Google announced that it had achieved carbon neutrality for the third year in a row, thanks in part to its energy-efficient practices in its data centres.
Increased Reliability
- Energy-efficient IT infrastructure can also result in increased reliability and reduced downtime. IT equipment that consumes less energy generates less heat, reducing the risk of equipment failure and downtime. Additionally, energy-efficient practices such as virtualization and cloud computing can improve the resiliency of IT infrastructure.
Example: In 2019, the Swedish company Bahnhof implemented an energy-efficient data centre design that used seawater for cooling, resulting in increased reliability and reduced downtime.
Regulatory Compliance
- Energy-efficient IT infrastructure can help organizations comply with environmental regulations and standards. Governments and industry organizations are increasingly introducing regulations and standards to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. By implementing energy-efficient practices, organizations can ensure compliance with these regulations and avoid penalties.
Example: In 2019, the European Union introduced the Energy Efficiency Directive, which requires member states to reduce energy consumption by 32.5% by 2030. By implementing energy-efficient practices, organizations in the EU can ensure compliance with this directive.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, energy efficiency in IT infrastructure is essential for organizations to reduce their environmental impact, lower operating costs, increase reliability and ensure regulatory compliance. By implementing energy-efficient practices, organizations can achieve these benefits while maintaining high performance and meeting the growing demand for digital technology.
Sources:
- U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency in Data Centers: https://www.energy.gov/eere/femp/energy-efficiency-data-centers
- Microsoft's commitment to be carbon negative by 2030: https://blogs.microsoft.com/blog/2020/01/16/microsoft-will-be-carbon-negative-by-2030/
- Google's carbon neutrality achievement: https://sustainability.google/progress/carbon-neutrality/
- Bahnhof's energy-efficient data center design: https://www.datacenterknowledge.com/design-construction/how-bahnhof-s-green-data-center-sweden-keeps-running-no-disruptions
- European Union Energy Efficiency Directive: https://ec.europa.eu/energy/topics/energy-efficiency/energy-efficient-buildings/energy-performance-buildings-directive_en
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