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How to cut datacentre energy costs

Server virtualisation looks set to be a key topic for discussion in 2011 and Forrester is right to suggest that the need to reduce energy costs is a major motivating factor in the debate.

It's worth remembering, however, that if you want to achieve energy efficiencies in every aspect of the datacentre, you need to commit to using benchmarking tests such as Power Usage Effectiveness calculations at peak and part-load operations, and ensure strict adherence to BRE Environmental Assessment Methods targets.

Although the EU's voluntary Code of Conduct for Data Centres on Energy Efficiency was adopted by only 15 per cent of large UK businesses in 2010, according to independent research commissioned by Sentrum, there are encouraging signs that the UK IT fraternity is prepared to take compliance seriously.

The British Computer Society launched its Certified Energy Efficiency Data Award in December, based on the EU code, which will enable datacentre operators to verify energy efficiency best practice after a stringent accreditation process.

If, as Gartner suggests, energy-related costs make up 12 per cent of datacentre expenditure, this new professional accreditation should help organisations and datacentre operators alike to monitor and minimise consumption without necessarily having to go virtual.

Franek Sodzawiczny, Sentrum

How to cut datacentre energy costs

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