Aspiring to a true win-win: cutting costs & carbon emissions

For the past three days, leaders of the G8 nations have been in earthquake-ravaged L’Aquila, Italy discussing pressing global issues such as our financial crisis, economic recession, climate change, trade and food security.

One thing they agreed on was to try to limit global warming to just 2C (3.6F) above pre-industrial levels by 2050 and that developed nations are to cut carbon emissions by 80 percent by 2050; this would allow a 50 percent global reduction in the same timeframe. Good luck with that.

Countries like China and India, two of the biggest polluters incidentally, refused to set a target and Canada was less than enthusiastic about hitting the mark outright, calling it "aspirational." That really doesn't help now does it?

Canada has slipped to last spot in the world's green list among the industrial leaders lagging behind Germany and England, which have made excellent progress in cutting greenhouse emissions over the past two decades. This information was gathered in the WWF/Allianz G8 Climate Scorecard 2009 report. Apparently, Canada emits more greenhouse gases than half the countries in the world put together.

We have work to do. Obviously. A look at what's working in the data center space might help in how we choose to address and correct our approach in cutting emissions.

Internap, an Internet solutions company including data center operations, has improved it's Manhattan, New York facility by installing and fitting more energy efficient equipment such as ultrasonic humidification systems, electronically commutated fans (saving 30% energy) and power saving variable frequency drives within the air conditioning systems. So here we have a company increasing power availability for customers, decreasing energy usage, while still reducing costs and wait for it...collecting some cash from the government for their effort.

Internap General Manager and VP of Data Center Operations, Mike Higgins expects rebate checks from the New York State Energy Research and Development Organization (NYSERDA) in recognition of the energy-efficient enhancements. He notes: “More and more companies are seeking ways to operate in a green environment. Both state and federal governments continue to increase the number of rebates for green initiatives in the data center. We plan to take advantage of those opportunities now and in the future.”

The electricity used to power the world's data center servers have doubled in a 5 year period due to more demand for the Internet and services such as as music and video downloads and this could rise by another 40 percent by next year. Our power hungry data centers emit more than two percent of world's greenhouse gases - let's try to lower that by upping the rewards. That's aspirational.