The world today has taken up the issue of Global warming seriously as never before, and human inhabitants of the earth are Going Green in every possible way. This has resulted in the introduction of numerous eco-friendly, environmental savvy policies and reforms and stringent practice of each one of them in our everyday lives. In this process, while we have our focus and efforts channeled in preventing the sources of Global Warming through minimizing the air pollution being caused by vehicle exhausts, chimneys with domestic and industrial exhaust applications, we are neglecting another key source of the same. Wondering what it is? The answer is the Data Center (often used as a synonym of Server Room).
As we all know Data Center is fundamentally, a facility in an industry which houses the computer assemblages with connections throughout the firm, accessories for data communication and environment control and units of backup power supplies. What most of us are unaware of is the enormity of the power consumption of the Data Centers in large scale plants. Not to forget, it’s inevitable negative contribution towards increased air pollution through the diesel exhaust. Statistics say that the power consumption in the Data Center in a large scale industry is almost equal to that of a small village. Particularly, in developing economies wherein the non-conventional means and resources for production of electricity are yet to gain momentum, the choice between the promoting industrial growth and providing basic amenities is simply unfair. Other issue associated with Data Centers, requiring immediate attention is exhaust and waste management. Considering the load handled by Data centers, generation of enormous amounts of waste is inevitable too. The acute necessity of addressing these issues is what led to the emergence of Green Data Centers-A thought conceived in lieu with minimizing the adverse effects of Data Centers.
Green Data Centers are constructed while abiding by principles of waste management, including provisions for waste recycling. Innovations in green data Centers have also resulted in evolution of Data Centers which generate power to meet their own requirements and in some cases, providing standby to other units of the firm too. The concept also includes sustainable landscaping, use of alternative energy technologies, and use of catalytic converters for exhaust gas treatment. In general, Green Data Centers are designed for maximum efficiency with minimum environmental impact thus playing a vital role in efficient energy management.
