Tools

The Green IT SI (Swiss Informatics Society) group developed an assessment and a catalogue of measures for computer centres as well as a general catalogue for the implementation of in-house Green IT measures (Green in IT). The most important recommendations and procedural steps are also listed below.

The assessment and the catalogues of measures are available in German, French and English. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us (Contact).

Assessment for data centers

Catalogue of measures for data centres

General catalogue of measures

Recommendations for data centers

Prevention of energy wastage

  • Consistent use of state-of-the-art technologies, these are energy-optimized. A reuse of old servers pays off for energy reasons in very few cases
  • Use of the available power reduction options by the user: shutting down processors, switching off excess power supplies, switching off backup memory infrastructures (spin down of disks when not in use)
  • using tape devices for backup, instead of disk storage
  • Reduce the number of IT components with the help of virtualized systems (server and memory)
  • Uninstall all hardware components that are no longer in use

Optimization of data center space and infrastructure

  • Energy savings in the data center by increasing the room temperature
  • Include infrastructures for direct water cooling of IT components and racks to allow direct cooling of servers for future, unknown hardware
  • Saving and optimizing data center space, cold aisle containment

Set energy efficiency targets

  1. Concentration of the servers on as small an area as possible
    • Use of cold aisle enclosures (efficient cooling up to 10 kW)
    • Use of water-cooled racks (efficient cooling above 20 kW)
  2. Utilization of racks as high as possible, but safe
    • Rack-based power consumption measurement of ICT components to prevent possible overload in the rack.
  3. Use of circulating air cooling units with efficient DC motors
    • Up to 50 % power saving through speed-controlled DC motors

Exchange experiences

  • Data Center operators should use suitable and efficient infrastructure facilities for highly available data centers
  • Rack manufacturers offer efficient and technically sophisticated water-cooled rack systems and cold or hot aisle enclosures
  • Support research work on liquid-cooled processors and entire motherboards
  • motivate universities/universities to research energy-saving measures in electricity and climate in the vicinity of computer centres

From analysis to detailed concept

Analysis and strategic goals

The measurement of energy consumption and the compilation of key figures is the first step towards the successful implementation of Green IT measures.

  1. Gap Analysis: Rough Assessment of the Status Quo of Green IT in a Company
    • Measurement of energy consumption
    • Substantiality valuation
    • Benchmarking
    • Identify possible vulnerabilities / leaks
    • Ideas Workshop
  2. Formulation of strategic goals
    • Determination / derivation of a Green IT policy.
    • Determination of strategic Green IT targets (e.g. 20% higher energy efficiency compared to the previous year).
    • Influential factors: cost-benefit analysis, regulation, market pressure, marketing, industry requirements, safety

Rough concept

The Green IT rough concept creates clear responsibilities and planning security for the operative implementation of policy and strategic goals.

  1. Operative targets
    • Defining operational goals needed to achieve the strategic goals
    • Creation of catalogue of measures
    • Scheduling
    • Resource Planning
    • Define Documentation Structure
  2. Responsibilities
    • Determine and communicate responsibilities: e.g. project team, energy manager
    • Clear anchoring within the corporate strategy including planning of resources (budget, personnel)

Detailed concept

The detailed concept details the measures from the rough concept, defines the exact project plan and controls the project communication.

  1. Detailed planning
    • concrete (technical) planning of the measures from the rough concept with all relevant stakeholders
      • Define key performance indicators (e.g. CO2 reduction, kWh, employee satisfaction, efficiency, OPEX)
      • Requirements, individual goals
    • Execution of expert workshops
  2. Communication (internal)
    • Internal communication of the project (also) outside the directly involved specialist areas
      • Change Management Methodology
      • Clear presentation of the benefits and risks of the project, as well as the requirements for all employees