The IT sector is estimated to account for 7% of electricity consumption globally. One of the sub-sectors of the IT industry is the data center sector. While it is only a small subsector of the IT industry, it represents a huge chunk of the power consumed by the sector.
How Online Activity Increase a Person’s Carbon Footprint
When most people think about their carbon footprint, the link between their online activity and their carbon footprint might not always be obvious. However, recent data indicates that a simple search uses as much power as is required to illuminate a 60-watt bulb for 17 seconds. For years, environmental activists have accused data centers of contributing to climate change via mass consumption of dirty power. In the future, the data center sector must adopt green technology to reduce its environmental impact.
The Future Looks Bright
In the past, using green energy was not cost-efficient. It was cheaper to utilize dirty energy compared to using renewable energy. However, thanks to incentive programs and improvements in technology, renewable energy sources are now cost-competitive with other sources of power. Another benefit of using renewable energy is that the prices are stable. Unlike fossil fuel energy, whose price is dependent on global ups and downs, the cost of power from renewable sources is predictable. The reason for this is that there exist long-term fixed pricing contracts for those that invest in renewable energy. Another major reason for using green energy sources is the growing awareness about the impact of human activity on the environment. Consequently, a data center that invests in green energy could end up being more attractive to potential customers.
Companies Investing in Green Energy
One example of a data center company that uses green energy is the neuCentrlX HK, located in Hong Kong. The data center is located in the iTechTower, which recently install solar panels to generate solar power. Solar panels at the building were installed by Canadian Solar. They are high-efficiency solar panels, which can generate 210 watts per square meter.