Step 4: Curb Data Centre Power Usage

Pack as many features, functions and services into the minimum amount of equipment and share that equipment across many locations and many users as possible. This can be applied to any IT situation.

The data centre is responsible for the most waste and power consumption in IT. It is estimated that 97% of power consumed in a data centre is used to keep machines running; meaning only 3% is used for computing power. The two main reasons for this wasted power is inefficient heat removal and redundant systems to keep machines up indefinitely.

Initial steps in curbing data centre power consumption can be as simple as practicing consolidation and centralisation. Add to this effective policies which limit ITCs tendency to over provision.

Once that is achieved, the next steps are often more difficult. These are around increasing the efficiency of the data centre support infrastructure, mainly the cooling systems and the uninterruptible power supply systems. These two systems may consume 50% of the power input into the data centre. Reducing the power demand from the servers may actually increase the power consumed by these systems. Retrofitting a data centre is possible, but may be difficult and expensive.

Another way of saving power in a data centre is by looking into alternative energy. Alternative energy can provide significant energy savings, independence from utility companies and best of all keep the environment cleaner by reducing emissions.