IT Energy Savings for Non-Techies Identifying & Understanding Opportunities September 2013 Mike Walker, President Beacon Consultants Network Inc. (An ENERGY STAR Technical Support Contractor)
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IT Energy Savings for Non-Techies
Identifying & Understanding Opportunities
September 2013
Mike Walker, President Beacon Consultants Network Inc. (An ENERGY STAR Technical Support Contractor)
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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
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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
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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
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Why are we here today?
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
• EPA has documented enormous potential IT energy savings, but the savings remain untapped
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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
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Imagine…
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Imagine…
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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
What is “CPM”, and why should I care?
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Energy saving features on every computer
• Automatically place inactive computer (not just monitor) into low power mode
• Wakes upon mouse or keyboard input
“CPM” settings must be activated!
• Built into Windows, Mac OS X, some Linux OSs – “Standby” and “hibernate” on PC – “Sleep” on Mac
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Would you leave your office like this every night?
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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 13423 requires federal
agencies to activate “sleep” features
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“Plug load” in office buildings is mostly computers
• Source: Office Plug Load Field Monitoring Report, CEC, October 2008. • CA study of 47 buildings that metered 7,000 plug load devices. • Business equipment = paper shredders, adding machines, portable lamps, and coffee makers.
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Monitor power management: no-brainer
• Easy to activate • Can’t interfere with software patching • Saves $10-35+ per monitor annually
Most organizations already utilize MPM features – but make sure!
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Computer power management: more challenging, more savings
• Drops power draw from 40-100+ 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
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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 30-60 minutes – Change “AC” or “Plugged in” profile, not “On battery” – Disregard “Turn off hard disks”
• The lower the settings, the more energy you save
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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
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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 administrator @ $2,500 per week
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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.
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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
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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
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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
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ENERGY STAR-qualified Office Equipment
Coming soon: uninterruptible power supplies, data center storage, small network equipment, products using battery charging systems
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New ENERGY STAR Servers can Consume 54% Less Power
• Replacing an older server with a new ENERGY STAR-qualified model will save energy and deliver more processing power in the bargain
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ENERGY STAR qualified vending machines can save $150 / yr
• Typically use 7x more energy than a refrigerator • Nationwide stock (3 million) uses more energy than
Delaware
=
Misc. Office Plug Load
Ask your vending service co. to provide ENERGY STAR vending machines or retrofit kits -- or use a VendingMiser® device
Sample procurement language: www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=vending_machines.pr_proc_vendingmachines
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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
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“Smart” Power Strips can Save $10-100+ per Year
Lighting, printer/scanner, PC speakers, backup drives, space heaters, etc.
Monitor (sleep mode triggers switch)
Computer, phone charger
Your utility may offer discounts/rebates
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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
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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
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Why are data centers energy hogs?
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• Industrial Light & Magic deployed 84 blade servers/rack
• Just 1 rack… – Uses 28 kW – Requires 8 tons of cooling per rack
vs.
Heat equivalent to 4 Weber Spirit gas grills
280 burgers/hour!
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Data center energy savings: 3 areas of opportunity
1. IT equipment 2. Airflow management 3. HVAC adjustments
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Info available on energystar.gov/lowcarbonit
• Non-technical descriptions
• Impartial information about – Costs – Savings – Implementation
considerations
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
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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 www.energystar.gov/lowcarbonit – 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
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Why do IT energy efficiency projects run out of steam?
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…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 www.energystar.gov/lowcarbonit – 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
You need an IT expert on your team. Now you have one!
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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
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Contact information
• Additional information at: www.energystar.gov/lowcarbonit
• Contacts: – Mike Walker, Beacon Consultants Network Inc.
(EPA Technical Support Contractor): 617-921-8445, [email protected]
– Steve Ryan, US EPA ENERGY STAR Program Manager: 202-343-9123, [email protected]
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