Data Centers Prepare for a Renewable Future 97
miller60 writes "A small but growing number of data centers are generating renewable energy at their facility, despite challenges with cost and scalability. In a special report, Data Center Knowledge looks at data centers implementing on-site solar power, wind energy, geothermal cooling and recycling waste heat from their hot aisles. Even as some projects choose to go green, other data center operators insist that improved power efficiency offers a far better return and carbon impact than pursuing on-site renewables."
Well, not exactly (Score:3, Informative)
Idle means zero computing units and running
Performance per watt is almost always calculated running flat out at 100%.
So if it's idle. i.e. not doing anything useful, it's almost certainly still consuming a significant amount of power doing symbiotic processing; processing which is necessary to keep the system running but which doesn't contribute directly to useful computing units. Except that won't be covered in the performance/watt figures.
So, using performance per watt when purchasing is really only useful as a measure if you're able to keep your systems running at high utilisation and switch them off otherwise.
Re:Imagine (Score:1, Informative)
It amazes me to see how people will drive 10 miles to the sports center, cycle 20 miles on an exercise bike in an air-conditioned room under strip lights, then drive 10 miles back. WTF?
So... I'm going to post this anonymously, because I'm one of these people, and kind of embarrassed about it, but I think that behavior is perfectly explainable. I know I need exercise, and I feel better when I get it, but I don't love doing it. So, given the choice between spending 40 minutes on a road bike when the temperature is 90+ outside, and spending 40 minutes on an indoor exercise bike in a nicely air conditioned environment where I can listen to some music... well, I'll take the A/C. If it helps, my exercise room is in my apartment complex, so I at least don't have to drive there, but the larger point stands.
Sorry if I'm not virtuous enough for you.