The world sees an overflow of reactions to the environmentally unfriendly actions that humans take daily. These include climate change, the destruction of habitats, and much more. As a result, people become more conscious about what they do and how it impacts the environment.
Businesses and IT centers are not behind in becoming “green” in their actions. It might surprise many people as you might think that IT centers and data storage places don’t really contribute to the carbon footprint on the environment. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth as data centers, the places that host all the data you use and transfer on your digital devices, contribute a high percentage to the carbon footprint on the environment.
As a result, data centers practice becoming green and more environmentally friendly. But others that are not green or are just partially green are out there. It means the choice rests on you as a consumer. You need to take a step and choose green data centers for your business and work. If you face this issue, keep reading to know what benefits choosing green data centers can bring for you.
What Are Green Data Centers?
The data centers everywhere run on electricity. They need the power to perform all operations, such as storing and interpreting data. All the huge number of activities lead to lots of carbon emissions from the data center, given that it uses electric power generated by traditional methods, as well as a few other reasons.
Green data centers tend to notice that they leave behind a huge carbon footprint and need to do something to make it stop. So, green data centers adopt more environmentally friendly and safe practices that don’t leave behind a long trail of carbon emissions like the non-green centers.
Green practices include actions such as reducing the consumption of electricity, especially one generated using non-renewable resources. SMEs and large corporations are more aware of their impact on the environment and work towards correcting it.
The consumers who become more conscious of what they consume may have caused the trend toward green data centers. They have varied options to choose from, so to stand out and fulfill their responsibility towards the environment, they have to take notice of the carbon footprint left behind by their business and take some steps to remedy it.
The data center Norway, for example, has already turned green and adopted more sustainable practices.
What Makes a Green Data Center?
The green data centers generally focus on three main points to become more sustainable in their practices.
Power and Energy
Power and energy are the major factors in running the data centers. UPS (Uninterrupted Power Supply) power data centers. In a traditional setup of UPS, the data center operates on below capacity power, while efficiency is at its maximum when the data center runs at full capacity of the UPS. With the latest technology incorporated into the data centers, the equipment will be able to operate at maximum capacity and save energy in the long run.
Another issue in terms of power is the lighting setup. Smart lighting setups with installed motion sensors decrease power consumption costs. Also, moving the voltage capacity from 120 and 140 to 240 volts reduces wastage and increases efficiency.
Temperature Control
Another important aspect of the data centers becoming green is the temperature control of the surroundings. The air exhausts and other equipment are installed in such a way as to keep the temperature of the center down.
One way to control temperature is to set up the exhausts and the hardware in alternating rows, so the air comes in one way and goes out the other way. There can also be a system of compartments so the hot air doesn’t mix with the cold air. It will help regulate the environment and ensure efficient air and temperature distribution, saving energy.
The Layout of the Data Center
The layout of the data center also affects the energy consumption and the eco-friendly impact of the green data center. The contemporary structure of the green data centers includes modular designs which are reliable, durable, flexible, and easy to change or replicate.
One more point in terms of layout is that the building of the data center is built close to the areas where clean energy generated from renewable sources can be taken and used for the data center operations.
Advantages of Choosing Green Data Centers
Moving towards a green data center for your business has several advantages. These benefits are not just for the environment. In fact, they make the lives of humans and other inhabitants of the Earth significantly better.
Less Energy Consumption
Virtualization of the data centers is one action toward green data centers. This process allows the controllers and IT experts to work on the data center and storage from a different and remote location.
As the people are working from a different place than the data center, there is no need to maintain optimal temperature and keep the lights running. Switching off the lights and letting the data centers deal with a slightly higher temperature reduce energy costs and bills significantly.
So, virtualization of the data centers actually moves the place towards an eco-friendly existence and reduces the carbon footprint by reducing energy consumption. Less energy consumption means one less thing to worry about.
Keeps the Capital Expenses in Check
One of the biggest bills you have to pay for a traditional data center is the bill for energy consumption. The data center needs a lot of electric power to keep the place running and functioning properly.
Green data centers aim to reduce energy consumption by using less power, reusing power that is already available to accomplish the tasks that need them, keeping an eye on the situation in the data center, and better managing the data center services.
These green practices of the data centers help bring the power consumption down, and they reduce the capital expenditure of the place. Besides that, they reduce the overall expenses.
Switch Off the Servers That Are Not Used
A lot of server space is in the data centers. When a company has to store any data on the server, they buy the server space to manage all their data. In reality, they never use the server space to its full potential, which results in a lot of unused server space left in the data center.
Even if the servers are empty or unused, they still go to the electric power in the data center, leading to an increase in the power bill. However, turning off the unused space on servers and only running the used ones will save electric power and eventually lead to reduced energy consumption. This is the eco-friendly option that you should use.
Eco-Friendly Impact
Another great advantage of green data centers is that it leaves an eco-friendly trail. Not only is there a reduced energy consumption, but the data centers are also made with the latest technology, so they actively work on saving energy. Green data centers are furnished with the latest equipment, which has an eco-friendly setup to consume less energy. With less energy consumption and more savings, green data centers have an environment-friendly impact.
Improved Social Branding of the Company
The social image of a corporation is highly important. People become more aware of companies and their role in social responsibility. Consumers want to buy from companies that play a role in sustainable practices and work towards abiding by regulations to keep the environment safe.
As such, incorporating green data centers into the company’s value proposition can skyrocket the brand’s social image. It can make you stand out from the crowd of businesses and establish your image as an eco-friendly brand. The improved social branding will also help take the company’s corporate image to a higher standard.
What to Look for in a Green Data Center
As companies move towards green data centers, you should take steps towards bringing in the services of a green data center for your business. You should keep in mind some points before choosing a data center. Look for the following standards.
- ISO 50001 Energy Management Standard
- ISO 14001 Environmental Management Standard
- EPA Energy Star
Conclusion
Using green data centers has several advantages for your business. It helps keep the environment safe by adopting sustainable practices. By reducing the energy consumption of the data centers, you are reducing your business’s carbon footprint, leaving behind an environmentally friendly trail.
The green efforts by your company will help create a better and more responsible social image which will improve customer loyalty, and in turn, provide more sales for you. Using green data centers is helpful for the environment and garnering the best reputation for your company. Moreover, the green data centers are more efficient as they are equipped with better technology.
You must start adopting green data centers for your business as well.
