SUSTAINABLE ICT IN UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES
- What is it, and how can we achieve it?
Peter James and Lisa Hopkinsonwww.susteit.org.uk
WHY BOTHER?
• A moral duty- environmental degradation- extreme social exclusion
• Tangible self interest- rising electricity costs- increasing regulation
• Intangible self interest- reputation- relevant curricula and research
THE BALANCE SHEET
• ICT ‘SUPPLY’- Energy and resource intensive, and polluting, production- (Sometimes) poor working conditions- High energy use in equipment
• ICT ‘DEMAND’- Travel substitution- Resource efficiency e.g. admin- Social inclusion- Awareness and information
WHERE DOES THE POWER GO?
• University of Sheffield- 18% of total non-residential electricity- PCs 48%- Servers 18%- High performance computing 14%- Imaging10%- Networking 8%
WHAT ARE THE WHOLE LIFE IMPACTS?
Materials
Manufacture
Transport
Use
Disposal
WHAT CAN WE DO - ADMIN?
• IT pays the energy bills
• Better, more widely applied, whole life costing models
• More cross-functional activity- especially IT and Estates
WHAT CAN WE DO – TECHNICAL?
• Simple measures- powerdown; lower power devices; grid computing; life extension- print management; easier duplex etc- energy efficient config & eqt in data centres
• Complex measures- thin client; virtualisation; storage; software
BACKGROUND
• Higher Education Environmental Performance Improvement- Green Gown Awards - www.heepi.org.uk
• Sustainable IT in Tertiary Education- Strategic review of IT in universities- Identifying & disseminating good practice- www.susteit.org.uk
AN INVISIBLE BURDEN
~30 components
~28 kg materials
~35 kg production waste
~32 kg use-related waste assoc. ~end of life
LIFE CYCLE WASTE FROM PCS
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
Desktop Laptop CRT LCD
To
tal
was
te (
kg)
Production
Distribution
Use
End of life
Source: IVF, 2007. Preparatory studies for Eco-design Requirements of Energy Using Products
LIFE CYCLE ENERGY FROM PCSSource: IVF, 2007. Preparatory studies for Eco-design Requirements of Energy Using Products
-2000
0
2000
4000
6000
8000
10000
12000
14000
16000
Desktop Laptop CRT LCD
To
tal
En
erg
y (M
J)
Production
Distribution
Use
End of life
LIFE CYCLE ENERGY OF PRINTERS
Source: Franzhofer IZM and PE Europe, 2007. Preparatory studies for Eco-design Requirements of EuPs
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
Excl. Paper Incl. Paper
To
tal
En
erg
y (G
J)
Production
Distribution
Use
End of life
www.gridcomputingnow.org
ELECTRICITY CONSUMPTION
• UK- ICT 10% of total- fastest growing component
• University of Sheffield- 16% + of electricity- 13% + of carbon emissions
• High wastage- CPUs 10-20% utilisation- Eqt switched on
WHY IT MATTERS TO FHE
• Cost- 50 to 100% rise in electricity prices?
• Carbon- growing regulation- Carbon Reduction Commitment
• Capacity
The Coal-Powered Computer
PROCUREMENT - REDUCING ENERGY IMPACTS IN USE
• Fit for purpose – faster, higher spec machines generally use more energy
• PCs: laptops 50-80% less energy than desktop/CRT; LCD monitor 50% less energy than CRT
• Imaging: Inkjets less energy than laser; b/w less energy than colour; MFDs less energy than SFDs. Duplex facility essential
• Consider energy use in idle and standby• Procure the most energy efficient equipment that meets
requirements
PROCUREMENT – REDUCING ALL IMPACTS OVER LIFE-
CYCLE• Dematerialise – smaller, lighter devices: MFDs
rather than SFDs; laptops or thin clients rather than desktops; LCDs rather than CRTs
• Extend useful life of product – recycle internally and refurbish
• Reduce toxic compounds – as of 1/2/08 all EEE on market should comply with ROHS
• Facility to return product to producer end of life, free of charge
PROCUREMENT – REDUCING IMPACTS OF PAPER
• Duplex facility for imaging equipment
• Built in user codes to record usage
• Print management software (e.g. GreenPrint)
• Procure recycled paper (lower embodied energy) and ensure high rates recycling
• Educate users- review/store online
GREEN DESKTOPS
• Powerdown networked computers
• Switch off and power manage computers & peripherals
• Grid computing
• Thin client
SERVER END USE
Server Load/ComputingOperations
Cooling Equipment
Power Conversions
& Distribution100
Units
33 UnitsDelivered
35 Units
Source: US EPA
SERVER OBJECTIVE
Typical Practice Better Practice
Server Load/ComputingOperations
Cooling & Power
Conversions Server Load/ComputingOperations
Cooling & Power
Conversions
Source: US EPA
Server Load/ComputingOperations
Cooling Equipment
Power Conversion & Distribution
AlternativeEnergy Supply
High voltage distributionUse of DC powerHighly efficient UPS systemsEfficient redundancy strategies
Power efficiency & managementConsolidation/VirtualisationInformation life cycle management
Better air managementFree/efficient coolingEfficient liquid coolingFlexibility and control
On-site renewablesWaste heat for coolingFuel cellsThermal storage
ENERGY EFFICIENT SERVERSAdapted from US EPA original
OVERCOMING BARRIERS
• Lack of awareness and information- footprinting and energy bills
• Unsupportive financial frameworks- whole life costs
• Lack of capacity- departmental champions; networks