IBM expands 'Project Big Green'
02-08-2007
by Charlie Taylor

IBM is doing its bit to help save the environment by announcing plans to shrink computer servers onto mainframes in order to reduce energy consumption.

The tech giant said that its decision to consolidate some 3,900 computer servers onto 30 System z mainframes at its worldwide data centres will consume 80 percent less energy than its current set-up and will also lead to significant savings in terms of software and system support costs.

The consolidation project will see IBM trading in physical servers for virtual ones with the result that the firm will save enough electricity to power a small town.

Such a move also means a reduction in software licensing charges as the new IBM mainframes contain significantly fewer processors than the current servers. In addition, the firm's technical personnel will be freed from routine system administration tasks and will be able to focus on higher-value projects instead.

With over 8,000,000 square feet of data centre space (equivalent to 139 football fields), IBM claims to operate the world's largest and most sophisticated data centre operations, with bases in New York, Connecticut, Colorado, the UK, Japan and Australia.

The company anticipates that its new infrastructure will support over 350,000 users. IBM plans to recycle the 3,900 servers through IBM Global Asset Recovery Services.

IBM's latest initiative is part of the company's 'Project Big Green' energy efficiency plan, which was unveiled in May. Project Big Green is intended to reduce data centre energy consumption for both IBM and its clients.

"The mainframe is the single most powerful instrument to drive better economics and energy conservation at the data centre today," said James Stallings, general manager, IBM System z mainframe. "By moving globally onto the mainframe platform, IBM is creating a technology platform that saves energy while positioning our IT assets for flexibility and growth."

IBM is just one of many tech firms who have been seeking to show off their green credentials.

In June, Intel, Google, Dell, HP, IBM, Lenovo, Microsoft and EDS all announced their involvement in the Climate Savers Computing Initiative (www.climatesaverscomputing.org), which plans to set new targets for energy-efficient computers and components, and will promote the adoption of such computers and power management tools worldwide.

In addition, HP announced in June that it would be setting a 'carbon footprint challenge' for its 4,000 employees in Ireland to help make the company greener as part of a company-wide effort to reduce energy usage by 20 percent before 2010. Dell recently held a free electronic waste recycling day at its Cherrywood complex in Dublin and began running a global tree planting scheme to offset the carbon emissions associated with its products, while chip manufacturer Intel announced plans to produce lead-free processors.

Apple though has come under heavy criticism from Greenpeace with regard to its manufacturing and recycling practices, leading the firm's CEO Steve Jobs to pen an open letter recently defending the tech firm's current practices and outlining its future plans to remove toxic chemicals from its products