| In today's tough economy there are many tough | | | | center to create maximum efficiency throughout the |
| decisions to make. It's nice to know that major | | | | day. This $1.2 billion dollar energy plant is well ahead |
| innovations like Green IT are around to combine | | | | of others in the field, and the staff doesn't plan on |
| eco-friendly products with dollar-friendly solutions that | | | | letting that reputation fade any time soon. |
| generate a much smaller carbon footprint. Green IT is | | | | Ryder System Inc. focuses on "environmental ethics" |
| a revolutionary concept that addresses all of the | | | | to motivate the staff and other companies in the |
| environmental needs of today with much more | | | | area to become eco-friendly. In 2006 alone, the |
| efficient technology systems that require less energy | | | | company cut its energy costs by more than 15% |
| and produce less waste than their predecessors. | | | | through the use of green IT, and they have |
| Though there have been concerns that moving to a | | | | continued to expand their energy savings ever since. |
| green state of mind would result in a global financial | | | | Recently the company built a new data center which |
| crisis, a lot of companies are finding that they actually | | | | is expected to save more that 6.5 million BTUs every |
| save a great deal more money by implementing | | | | year. That equates to more than 1,400 pounds of |
| green IT / technologies rather than lose money! | | | | greenhouse gases that aren't going to be released |
| Everybody wins. | | | | into the atmosphere from the company. This data |
| Highmark Inc. is one of the largest health insurance | | | | center utilizes green computing and also allows for |
| providers in the country, but recently some | | | | less office space, which in turn yields a much smaller |
| developments have put the company on the | | | | carbon footprint. Ryder System gets to save some |
| environmental advocate list. A few years ago, | | | | green while going green - all at the same time. |
| Highmark decided to upgrade from the 24,000 square | | | | The Monsanto Co. in Missouri is also moving toward a |
| foot data center that it was residing in and upgrade | | | | better state of environment with the development |
| to one that was more than three times the size. The | | | | of its latest data center. The new center was built |
| company chose to do so through the utilization of | | | | with the use of green computing and is fully |
| green computing. With the assistance of server | | | | eco-friendly from floor to ceiling. The center uses |
| virtualization and green IT HVAC systems, Highmark | | | | materials that are strong enough to withstand the |
| has been able to use the same energy to power the | | | | blow of an F3 tornado, and it has window's that can |
| new office as it did the old one, even after the size | | | | block out more than 60% of the sun's rays. This |
| differenc. The building utilizes recycled materials and | | | | helps reduce the cost of cooling required for the |
| water collection systems as well to ensure that the | | | | company, which in turn lessens the energy used. |
| company is doing all it can to lessen its eco-footprint. | | | | Over the past ten years, the firm has implemented |
| Wachovia Corp is also trying to adapt to the green | | | | theories behind Green IT to consolidate more than |
| computing world. By replacing the computer systems | | | | ten data centers across the country. Their efforts |
| within their data center, Wachovia has teamed up | | | | have been furthered by the use of server |
| with green IT designers to create a more effective | | | | consolidation and virtualization, and the company plans |
| system of technology that has reduced the costs of | | | | to continue their efforts to keep up with |
| construction by more than $80,000. Wachovia plans | | | | technological advancements that continue to arise on |
| to implement environmentally friendly solutions so | | | | a daily basis. |
| that they can reduce their greenhouse gas emissions | | | | Perkins+Will Inc. has striven for a sustainable work |
| by more than 10% in the next few years. They plan | | | | space for decades, and when the concept of green |
| to expand their green efforts to all of their data | | | | computing presented itself, the company gladly |
| centers in the future, including the use of | | | | decided to hop on board. Every office under the |
| energy-efficient cooling systems and power reduction | | | | Peter+Will name has its own group of environmental |
| tactics. | | | | watchdogs (typically called the green team) which |
| As might be expected, the World Wildlife Foundation | | | | monitors the energy use, water use, air quality and |
| has also joined in the pursuit for a better ecosystem | | | | more in the building to ensure that the company is |
| through the use of green computing. They have | | | | doing all that it can to keep usage and costs to a |
| fostered efforts to save the environment for over | | | | minimum. Aside from the visualization strategies |
| 40 years, and the more efficient use of green IT | | | | employed by the company, Perkins+Will has started |
| simply became the next step in their legacy. The | | | | requiring their employees to turn off their computers |
| WWF has utilized virtualization software and blade | | | | every night, which has drastically cut costs in |
| servers to minimize their energy use and increase the | | | | electricity and energy needed to keep the firm going. |
| amount of money they save. The WWF tries to | | | | Discovery Communications LLC is responsible for |
| stay ahead of the eco-friendly world anyways as | | | | environmental TV networks like the Discovery |
| their goal has been and always will be to preserve | | | | Channel, TLC, and Animal Planet, but the company |
| the environment at any cost. It just so happens that | | | | has done much for the environment than provide |
| green technology is a savings, and not a cost at all. | | | | human entertainment about it. As part of its green IT |
| One company that was well ahead of the green | | | | plan, the company keeps regular track of the uses of |
| computing bandwagon was First National of Nebraska | | | | its server, network and storage equipment to ensure |
| Inc. Back in 1999, the company began their quest for | | | | that energy is employed in the best way possible. |
| environmental efficiency by implementing the first | | | | Discovery Communications LLC has saved more than |
| data center to ever be powered completely by fuel | | | | 20% of its energy use since it was re-designed to fit |
| cell technology. Unbelievably, that change alone helped | | | | with green computing, and it is expanding its saving |
| save the company over $100 million, and they still | | | | to other areas as well, including the local headquarters |
| aren't done with improvements. First National of | | | | where energy has been reduced by more than 27%. |
| Nebraska Inc. plans to launch massively-scaled | | | | Overall, green IT has had an amazing impact on the |
| consolidation of servers within various data centers, | | | | way that companies save money and energy, and |
| in full compliance with Green IT ideals. They expect | | | | there's hope for great expansion of green theories |
| to save the firm an additional $19 million in server / | | | | to come in the near future. Though efforts did seem |
| infrastructure costs. | | | | slow at first, the larger companies have started to |
| Austin Energy is no stranger to green computing | | | | inspire even the smallest of local businesses to cut |
| either as the company has employed energy efficient | | | | costs, consolidate, and change for the better. As |
| solutions for more than 20 years now. As part of | | | | developments continue to arise in the study of green |
| Austin Energy's green IT goals, the company plans to | | | | computing, the world should see nothing but growth |
| employ new server technology and compression | | | | in eco-friendly solutions for the future. Green IT is |
| techniques within its data center to save over 40% | | | | more than just a business fad. It's the first step |
| of their energy costs in the future. Currently, the | | | | toward a better world for us all, and there's no telling |
| company has an automated electricity system that | | | | what's in store for the future generations to enjoy. |
| distributes and regulates the energy used by the | | | | |