Find the Best Green Server

People looking for greener servers are now going to have a better chance at finding one that meets their own eco-ethics thanks to Energy Star. While nothing is perfected quite yet, the EPA has been working on identifying “Ways in which energy efficiency can be measured, documented, and implemented in data centers and the equipment they house, especially servers.“  This is good news for IT managers and the earth. It’s also not bad news for computer manufacturers. Energy Star is well-known and easy for consumers to follow and now, the folks who manufacture computers will be able to say, “Hey, we’re Energy Star rated.”

According to Reuters, a Tier 1 rating system is in place for low-end enterprise servers. They also note that, “Companies that cater to larger computing clusters are eagerly waiting for the Tier 2 benchmarks… The next tier of specifications will have an even greater impact, targeting large, multiprocessor computer systems… the biggest culprit in data center energy consumption.”

Just how much energy might this save? Some sources note that server use will produce carbon at a rate higher than the airlines by 2020. And Scoop notes, “A moderate size server has about the same annual carbon footprint as a gas-guzzling SUV getting 15 miles-to-the-gallon…. all information intensive companies – generate about 500,000 metric tons of CO2 per year and information technology electricity consumption accounts for up to 65 percent of that total.” We don’t often consider it, but even Google has a negative eco impact. Server grading may save both carbon emissions and cut energy costs.

Also see: 3 items to consider for your next energy efficient server and How to Optimize the Energy Efficiency of Your Server.

For kicks see the eco-impact of spam.

[image via stock.xchng]