IT Energy Savings for Non-Techies Identifying & Understanding Opportunities

Transcription

1 IT Energy Savings for Non-Techies Identifying & Understanding Opportunities Mike Walker, President Beacon Consultants Network Inc. (An ENERGY STAR Technical Support Contractor) September 2013

2 Who are we? Work on behalf of EPA s ENERGY STAR program as technical support contractors 3 core areas of expertise: Large scale human behavior change IT management & consulting Energy efficiency, sustainability Vendor/product/solution neutral Our services are free -- we get paid by EPA 2

3 EPA as IT energy efficiency advisors Developed 1st system to centrally manage PC power Worked with Microsoft to improve Windows Vista, 7 EZ GPO is a free tool for network administrators 3

4 EPA as IT energy efficiency advisors, cont. Developed ENERGY STAR ratings for: Servers, PCs, copiers, printers, etc. Data centers UPS* systems Coming soon: data storage and data center cooling Advised/assisted hundreds of organizations *UPS stands for Uninterruptable Power Supply 4

5 Why are we here today? EPA has documented enormous potential IT energy savings, but the savings remain untapped 1. Misaligned incentives in most large orgs 2. Most IT pros don t have the required technical expertise We ve figured out how to move you past these barriers 5

6 Overcoming barriers to IT energy savings: resources Vendor-neutral technical consultations for saving energy Power managing networked computers Data centers Misc. IT & plug load Software solutions for CPM Savings estimates Power metering studies Public recognition 6

7 Imagine 7

8 Imagine 8

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10 IT Energy Savings: 4 Opportunities 1. Power-manage networked computers 2. Specify ENERGY STAR for all office equipment purchases 3. Computer peripherals & misc. plug load 4. Data centers 10

11 What is CPM, and why should I care?

12 Energy saving features on every computer Automatically place inactive computer (not just monitor) into low power mode Wakes upon mouse or keyboard input Built into Windows, Mac OS X, some Linux OSs Standby and hibernate on PC Sleep on Mac CPM settings must be activated! 12

13 Would you leave your office like this every night? 13

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15 Why power management? electricity consumption by $10-100/PC/yr. cooling loads (saves additional $3-30/PC/yr.) peak load demand charges air pollution carbon footprint Executive Order requires federal agencies to activate sleep features 15

16 Plug load in office buildings is mostly computers Source: Office Plug Load Field Monitoring Report, CEC, October CA study of 47 buildings that metered 7,000 plug load devices. Business equipment = paper shredders, adding machines, portable lamps, and coffee makers. 16

17 Monitor power management: no-brainer Easy to activate Can t interfere with software patching Saves $ per monitor annually Most organizations already utilize MPM features but make sure! 17

18 Computer power management: more challenging, more savings Drops power draw from to 1-3 watts Wakes up in a few seconds Saves $10-40 per PC annually Can save > $100 if monitor sleep hasn t already been deployed Microsoft Windows 7 Power Options 18

19 For optimal savings & user experience, EPA recommends: Set display to enter sleep mode after 5-20* minutes of inactivity Set computer to enter system standby/hibernate/sleep after minutes Change AC or Plugged in profile, not On battery Disregard Turn off hard disks The lower the settings, the more energy you save 19

20 Two challenges 1. Activating settings on many computers at once 2. Ensuring that sleep settings don t interfere with periodic distribution of software updates E.g., Windows security patches, antivirus definitions Numerous solutions exist, including admin tools that you may already own, and free software 20

21 CPM offers a compelling return on investment (ROI) Software costs: ~ $0-15 / seat Many solutions are free Commercial solutions: $3-15 per PC Labor costs: ~ $5 / seat Identifying appropriate solutions Testing & troubleshooting exceptions Ensuring that sleeping computers still get software updates Vs. energy savings of $120-$160 / seat! Assumptions: 1000 seats; labor costs = 2 weeks of work for one network $2,500 per week 21

22 Myth or reality? You d actually save more energy and a lot of trouble if you simply required people to turn off their computers each night. 22

23 The verdict: myth! Surveys and interviews with IT managers consistently conclude that policies requiring users to turn off their PCs at night result in only about 70-90% compliance You only save a watt or two by turning off a computer vs. placing it in sleep mode Forgetting to shut down your computer just a handful of times will negate an entire year s worth of incremental energy savings 23

24 Case Study: West Hartford Public Schools Challenge: Monitor power management not activated Most PCs were not being turned off after hours Solution: EZ GPO (free software from ENERGY STAR) Results: More than 3,000 computers sleep when they are inactive Monitors sleep after 30 min of idle Computers sleep after 40 min Avg. of $63.86 savings per PC annually 24

25 IT Energy Savings: 4 Opportunities 1. Power-manage networked computers 2. Specify ENERGY STAR for all office equipment purchases 3. Computer peripherals & misc. plug load 4. Data centers 25

26 ENERGY STAR-qualified Office Equipment Coming soon: uninterruptible power supplies, data center storage, small network equipment, products using battery charging systems 26

27 New ENERGY STAR Servers can Consume 54% Less Power Replacing an older server with a new ENERGY STARqualified model will save energy and deliver more processing power in the bargain 27

28 ENERGY STAR qualified vending machines can save $150 / yr Misc. Office Plug Load Typically use 7x more energy than a refrigerator Nationwide stock (3 million) uses more energy than Delaware = Ask your vending service co. to provide ENERGY STAR vending machines or retrofit kits -- or use a VendingMiser device Sample procurement language: 28

29 IT Energy Savings: 4 Opportunities 1. Power-manage networked computers 2. Specify ENERGY STAR for all office equipment purchases 3. Computer peripherals & misc. plug load 4. Data centers 29

30 Smart Power Strips can Save $ per Year Computer, phone charger Lighting, printer/scanner, PC speakers, backup drives, space heaters, etc. Monitor (sleep mode triggers switch) Your utility may offer discounts/rebates 30

31 Consolidate Printers Reduce the number of devices Ensure that remaining devices are cost effective: Eliminate inkjet & other high-cost printers Share workgroup printers Use multi-function devices Benefits: Save electricity Reduce hardware costs Reduce maintenance expenses Cut paper, ink, and toner costs Savings: 30-60% of printing budget 31

32 IT Energy Savings: 4 Opportunities 1. Power-manage networked computers 2. Specify ENERGY STAR for all office equipment purchases 3. Computer peripherals & misc. plug load 4. Data centers 32

33 Why are data centers energy hogs? vs. Industrial Light & Magic deployed 84 blade servers/rack Just 1 rack Uses 28 kw Requires 8 tons of cooling per rack Heat equivalent to 4 Weber Spirit gas grills 280 burgers/hour! 33 33

34 Data center energy savings: 3 areas of opportunity 1. IT equipment 2. Airflow management 3. HVAC adjustments 34

35 Info available on energystar.gov/lowcarbonit Top 12 Data Center Opportunities 1. Virtualization of Servers 2. Decommissioning of Unused Servers 3. Consolidation of Lightly Utilized Servers 4. Data Storage Opportunities 5. Efficient Equipment Purchase 6. Hot Aisle/Cold Aisle Arrangement 7. Containment/Enclosures 8. Variable Speed Drives 9. Housekeeping: Blanking Panels, Cabling and Gaps 10. Server Inlet Temperature and Humidity Adjustments 11. Air Side Economizer 12. Water Side Economizer Non-technical descriptions Impartial information about Costs Savings Implementation considerations 35 35

36 4 Steps For Getting Everyone on Board 1. Schedule a facility walk-thru to look for potential savings opportunities For computers, review current settings: Are sleep features enabled on monitors? Computers? Do users leave PCs on at night? Roughly how many total computers & monitors? 2. Counter technical concerns/questions with You might be right: why don t we ask an expert? Schedule a (free) conference call with our vendor-neutral technical advisors 3. Estimate project ROI Estimate savings at Contact your utility and ask about incentive programs Emphasize increased reliability and security as side benefits 4. Build a coalition for change Share opportunities with friends in Finance, Facilities 36

37 Why do IT energy efficiency projects run out of steam? 37

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39 and what to do about it 1. Schedule a facility walk-thru to look for potential savings opportunities For computers, review current settings: Are sleep features enabled on monitors? Computers? Do users leave PCs on at night? Roughly how many total computers & monitors? 2. Counter technical concerns/questions with You might be right: why don t we ask an expert? Schedule a (free) conference call with our vendor-neutral technical advisors 3. Estimate project ROI Estimate savings at You need an IT expert on your Contact your utility and ask about incentive programs Emphasize increased reliability and security as side benefits team. Now you have one! 4. Build a coalition for change Share opportunities with friends in Finance, Facilities 39

40 Free services to help you overcome barriers to savings Vendor-neutral technical consultations for saving energy Power managing networked computers Data centers Misc. IT & plug load Software solutions for CPM Savings estimates Power metering studies Public recognition 40

41 Contact information Additional information at: Contacts: Mike Walker, Beacon Consultants Network Inc. (EPA Technical Support Contractor): , Steve Ryan, US EPA ENERGY STAR Program Manager: , 41