Plugged In
Stay plugged in to technology news. Cox staffers across the country and around the globe bring you breaking tech news and other high-tech tidbits and explain what it all means to you and your community -- 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Only with "Plugged In."RSS feed
What's on this page →
All the entries posted on August 03, 2007.
Commenting is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. M-F
Recent entries
Home > Plugged In > Archives > 2007 > August > 03
Friday, August 3, 2007
Turn Down the AC, Turn Down the Data Center
An EPA report just out shows that electricity usage by computer data centers doubled in the past five years and that data centers now use about 1.5 percent of all energy consumed in the United States. Data center servers used by the federal goverment alone consume about $400 million worth of electricty a year, according to the report.
The EPA said in its report to Congress that data center energy use will likely double again in the next five years - if something isn’t done to make them more energy efficient.
Among the EPA’s recommendations: using power management tools to turn off servers that aren’t always needed, consolidating data into fewer servers and using more energy-efficient computers.
The EPA hints in the report that it may consider establishing an “Energy Star” rating system for computer servers, and that state and federal officials should also consider offering incentives for data centers that meet energy efficiency standards.
Permalink | |