IBM Allocates $1 Billion to Advance "Green" Technology and Services
IBM to double computing capacity in its own data centers while using new technologies to avoid five billion kilowatt hours of new energy use.
IBM is redirecting $1 billion per year across its
businesses, mobilizing the company's resources to dramatically increase the
level of energy efficiency in IT. The plan includes new products and services
for IBM and its clients to sharply reduce data center energy consumption,
transforming the world's business and public technology infrastructures into
"green" data centers.
The savings are substantial -- for an average 25,000 square
foot data center, clients should be able to achieve 42 percent energy savings.
Based on the energy mix in the US ,
this savings equates to 7,439 tons of carbon emissions saved per year.
Called "Project Big Green," IBM's initiative
targets corporate data centers where energy constraints and costs can limit
their ability to grow. The initiative includes a new global "green
team" of more than 850 energy efficiency architects from across IBM.
Today, according to analyst firm IDC, roughly 50 cents is
spent on energy for every dollar of computer hardware. This is expected to
increase by 54 percent to 71 cents over the next four years.
"The data center energy crisis is inhibiting our
clients' business growth as they seek to access computing power," said
Mike Daniels, senior vice president, IBM Global Technology Services. "Many
data centers have now reached full capacity, limiting a firm's ability to grow
and make necessary capital investments. Today we are providing clients the IBM
action plan to make their data centers fully utilized and energy
efficient."
IBM currently runs the world's largest commercial technology
infrastructure, with more than eight million square feet of data centers in six
continents. By using the same energy efficiency initiatives it is offering
clients today, IBM expects to double the computing capacity of its data centers
within the next three years without increasing power consumption or its carbon
footprint. Compared to doubling the size of its data centers by building out
new space, IBM expects this will help save more than five billion kilowatt
hours of energy per year.
IBM Details "Project Big Green"
IBM is using its expertise and energy-smart technology
innovations to outline a five-step approach for clients that is designed to
dramatically improve energy efficiency:
1. DIAGNOSE: Evaluate existing facilities -- energy
assessment, virtual 3-D power management and thermal analytics
2. BUILD: Plan, build or update to an energy efficient data
center
3. VIRTUALIZE: Virtualize IT infrastructures and special
purpose processors
4. MANAGE: Seize control with power management software
5. COOL: Exploit liquid cooling solutions -- inside and out
of the data center
"Just as IBM helped organizations grapple with new
innovations around the Internet and Linux, we will again assist clients
navigate this new era of energy efficient computing," said Bill Zeitler,
senior vice president, IBM Systems and Technology Group. "Relief from the
energy crisis can't be achieved through incremental improvements. Bold ideas
and actionable plans are needed to deal with this issue."
IBM will soon launch an open, Web-enabled clearinghouse for
energy efficiency incentives. The Energy Efficiency Incentive Finder will be
one central website for details about energy efficiency incentives and programs
that are available from local utility companies, governments, and other
participating agencies anywhere in the world.