This week there was a lot of chatter on our social media channels on green data centers after the New York Times published a report that kept many of us awake at night. This report left many consumed with guilt and remorse at the idea that most data centers, by design, consume vast amounts of electricity from the grid.
Spending on cloud infrastructure has doubled to $4 trillion since 2005 and with the rise of big data, energy efficiency and environmental issues are becoming significant factors that add to the purchasing equation. More and more users demand almost immediate response times and reduced latency, putting many businesses at risk if they fail to meet the expectations. This high maintenance relationship leaves us with the need to find the right infrastructure; one that is both reliable and consistent, while keeping environmental considerations in mind.
Understanding power consumption and addressing the growing need for green data center services appears to be a challenge, however, feeling guilty is never part of the solution – acting smart and educating oneself is part of it.
Smart companies such as Internap are constantly leading the way in innovation by implementing leaner technologies that process power and energy sources with sensitivity. Since it’s more and more difficult to find blameless activities these days, I recommend you become more demanding with your data providers and learn more about their sustainable construction practices.
We are very open and forward about ours. After all, two of Internap’s data centers have been recently awarded with “green” accolades. The Dallas data center received a LEED Gold certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. LEED is one of the primary rating systems for the design, construction and operation of energy-efficient buildings. A Gold certification is given for buildings that are designed and constructed with sustainable concepts and practices that substantially reduce the building’s impact on the environment. It was also the First data center in Texas to receive a Green Globes Certification following a detailed review process by the Green Building Initiative (GBI). Green Globes helps commercial building owners advance environmental performance and sustainability through a rigorous online assessment, comprehensive site visit, and an evaluation by an independent, third party evaluator.
Other encouraging news comes from Internap’s Santa Clara data center which ranked 65 on the InformationWeek 500 List of Top Technology Innovators for green achievements. In the construction of its Santa Clara data center, Internap implemented cutting-edge efficiency practices that deliver major operational benefits and align with its corporate commitment to utilize green data center design techniques, wherever possible, in both new and expansion projects. The 36,000 square-foot Santa Clara facility houses a variety of sustainable elements, including green power, renewable energy becoming the first commercial data center in the U.S. and the first non-governmental building in California to receive the Green Building Initiative’s Green Globe® certification, a green building assessment and rating system. Earlier this year, the data center was also awarded LEED Silver certification and received Silicon Valley Power’s 2012 Energy Innovator Award. These initiatives, among others, reflect our approach to innovation and commitment to sustainable construction practices and significant reductions in energy.
Next time you lose sleep over how environmentally friendly you really are, think beyond composting and recycling. Learn how your data is hosted and how it is managed.
