Build a Green IT Infrastructure
by Ed Duncan, Consultant, SBSC, MCTS, MCSE, MCSA
A sign of a good business is one that is always looking for ways to increase revenue while keeping operating costs as low as possible. This involves defining good business processes, hiring the right people, and providing them with the proper tools to be successful. However, let's throw another requirement into the mix: do it in a way that is also environmentally friendly and saves the business money. That's the challenge many companies are facing today.
Hewlett-Packard just built their first air-cooled data center in the UK. The company is expected to save $4 million annually. Google stated its commitment to using renewable energy, such as solar and wind power at its data centers. Google and eBay are also testing Bloom Box, a device that uses oxygen and fuel to generate electricity without creating emissions.
While these are ambitious projects too big for the average small business to tackle, there are measures that companies can take to put them on the path to being environmentally friendly that doesn't cost much to implement.
Virtualization
The average server in most companies is underutilized when it comes to CPU processing and memory usage. A business with multiple underutilized servers is wasting money when you factor in power and cooling costs. The solution: consolidation through virtualization. Depending on the size and number of servers, a company employing a virtual solution can see immediate energy savings, sometimes as high as 50% to 75%.
Virtualization is not restricted to the server side of the IT house either. Virtual desktop solutions can save the company money as well. By using virtual desktops, businesses don't have to spend money on high end workstations to run process intensive business applications. They can go with cheaper entry level computers or notebooks that use less power.
Eco Friendly Computers
Nearly all new computers manufactured today are built with energy efficiency in mind. Hardware components draw less power and the operating system can manage the computer by shutting off processes not being used, spin down hard drives, or go into hibernate or sleep mode after periods of inactivity. Look for computers, servers, monitors, and printers that meet the new EPA ENERGY STAR version 5.0 rating.
The Paper-less Office Revisited
The paper-less office was a concept ahead of its time in the 1990's. Technology has matured to such a point that this is very quickly becoming a reality. Advances in business workflow software, the Internet, and messaging are making technology like fax machines rapidly become extinct. I can count on one hand the number of times I sent a fax last year. Nearly all of my business communications and transactions are handled through email or over the Internet, like this very newsletter you're reading. Even printers and copiers will see less use as archiving and e-storage solutions become more sophisticated. The difficult part will be getting people used to working with paper hard copies into the habit of doing everything electronically. When one calculates the cost savings in paper, toner or ink, and hardware maintenance, it becomes an easier sell.
Cloud Computing
What can be an easier way to save money than to offload an expense to someone else? Companies that provide hosted solutions saw increased demand over the past 2 years, especially during the economic downturn, as companies wanted to offload their biggest expenditures, which was usually IT related projects and services. Software-as-a-service (SaaS) and cloud solutions can save businesses money in multiple ways. One green way allows companies to have distributed workforces with employees that work remotely. The company saves money by not having to lease office space to house the employees, or purchase computer equipment for them to use in some cases. Companies also save money by not having to invest in the capital equipment required to run the applications in-house, or having to spend on the power and cooling systems needed to maintain them.
Improved technology makes going green much easier to accomplish. So if you're planning to start your own green initiative taking these few steps can help get you going.
Ed Duncan is President & CEO of Duncan Technologies and has over 15 years experience in IT consulting, systems integration, and systems administration, with a focus on IT infrastructure for small to midsize businesses. He can be reached at edduncan@duncantechinc.com.