So how can data centres provide the IT services needed to power the business without living at the expense of future generations? How can we make computing more ‘sustainable’?

HP can realise vast savings in cooling energy costs by combining mechanical thermo-fluid engineering and computer science. But these gains are only achieved by cutting energy consumption and reducing the environmental impact at every level. For HP, sustainability means exploiting all power conservation opportunities in a data centre: from the small processor chips inside the servers to large data centre air conditioners. We call this approach: ‘chip to chiller.’
After a decade of investing in research and development, HP has received more than 1,000 patents for advances in power and cooling technology. That is why Gartner research calls HP “the most vocal and visionary of the main server hardware vendors in addressing the issues.”³ HP’s BladeSystem c-Class servers use 30% less power than regular rack-mount servers and their ‘active fan technology’ – inspired by the jet engine - uses 50% less power than conventional cooling fans.

‘Virtualisation’ is a set of tools and technologies that facilitates the pooling and sharing of these resources. It results in better utilisation and, therefore, lower power costs.  Virtualisation is another way that HP makes it possible to save on material, energy and green house gas emissions. It is an important step towards IT consolidation.

To meet the ultimate challenge of getting the right power and cooling to the right place at the right time, HP scientists have broken new ground with Thermal Assessment Services and Dynamic Smart Cooling.

Thanks to sophisticated modelling tools, HP’s thermal assessment determines the unique thermal conditions for high-density server and storage equipment. It begins by creating a three-dimensional ‘map’ of the data centre – showing how much, how often, and exactly where air conditioners are blasting systems with cold air.

The first solution of its type, Dynamic Smart Cooling is an ‘intelligent’ air conditioning system for an entire data centre or server farm, no matter how big.  A network of thousands of tiny sensors deployed on IT racks measures air temperature in real time. The sensors direct cooling only to the places in the data centre that really need it. 

Storage networks consume 15 percent of total IT energy spending. They are a good place to save money without losing functionality or security. Tape is cool – up to 99% cooler than disk backup. HP Ultrium tape solutions reduce power and cooling costs while providing reliability tested in the most extreme conditions on earth. With lower heat output, tape drives can be packed more closely together. That saves space without raising cooling costs.

In and out of the data centre, HP innovations are helping companies around the world realise the economic and environmental benefits of comprehensive energy-wise strategies. HP is also leading the way by reducing the energy impact of its own operations caused by its use of fossil fuels and electricity. HP and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) are engaged in a joint initiative to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from HP’s worldwide operating facilities. They are leveraging HP technology to advance the science and practice of adapting to climate change.

These bold moves have put HP on track to reduce its worldwide energy consumption 20 percent by 2010.