Introduction to Green IT
February 11, 2010
Bellevue Community College Seminar
Agenda
 Problem/Background
 What is Green IT?
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•
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Energy Efficient IT Architecture
Advanced Power and Cooling
Integration with Building and Landscape Architecture
Using IT to enhance environmental education and
responsibility
Using IT to save energy
 Green IT Alliance Projects
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Thin-Client Computer Lab
Grid Computer Project
Solar/Wind Projects
Ornamental Cooling Pond/Living Roof
Interpretive Walk
Data Center Problem
1 large, 100,000 sq ft Datacenter
 30MW Power Consumption
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Equivalent Power Consumption of 60,000 individuals
Equivalent CO2 Output of 6,700 Households or 23,000 cars
Annual Power Bill
~$5.3M @ $0.02/kWhr (Quincy)
~$12.7M @ $0.05/kWhr (Eastern Washington)
~$22.3M @ $0.09/kWhr (National Average)
~$31.8M @ $0.12/kWhr (Green Power Average)
Wild Horse Wind Farm, ~ 230MW Peak, 100 MW average ~
8,600 Acre Range, 167 Acre Turbine Area, $380 Million Investment
Solar @ $6/Watt, 30MW with Eastern Washington insolation ~
300 Acres of Panel Area, $1.1B investment!
Background

Washington State Governor’s Agenda Priorities supportive
of Clean Technology Initiatives and Job Growth
 I-937, LEED for Gov Bldgs, Bio-Diesel Initiatives, etc.

National Recognition of Huge Problem associated with
Energy Demands for Power/Cooling of IT Infrastructure
 Fastest Growing Segment of Energy Demand

Green Building/Sustainable Architecture is a Major
National Thrust
 Very Little Effort to Address IT Infrastructure

Ground Floor Opportunity Exists to Take a Leadership
Position in Integrating Green IT Technologies into Green
Building Practices
Pullman IPZ
 Pullman IPZ Strategy is to Focus on collaborative
projects in the following areas
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Green IT
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Clean Technology
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Alternative Energy
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Sustainable Architecture
 Execute High Profile Projects that Create Future
Economic Opportunity
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Foster Innovation and Collaboration among the IPZ
Partners
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Prioritize based upon Future Business Growth
Potential
Technical Emphasis Areas

Energy Efficient IT Hardware/Software/
Network Architecture
 Virtualization/Grid Computing/Thin Client

Power and Cooling Infrastructure
 SprayCool/DC Distribution/Power Aware

Integration into Building/landscape
Architecture
 Modular Data Centers, Cooling Pond/Radiant
Floor Heat/Green Power
Projects

IT Architecture
 Thin Client/Virtualization Training Lab
 Workgroup Cluster Energy Productivity

Advanced Power and Cooling
 Renewable Energy Powered IT
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•
Solar Project
Wind Project
 Server Power and Cooling
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•

Liquid Cooling/Waste Heat Re-Use
DC Distribution
Integration with Bldg and Landscape Architecture
 Ornamental Cooling Ponds
 Living Roofs
 Interpretive Walk/Wetland Restoration
Problem Statement
Why Data Centers?
 Highly energy-intensive and rapidly growing
 Consume 10 to 100 times more energy per square foot
than a typical office building
 Large potential impact on electricity supply
and distribution
 Used about 45 billion kWh
in 2005
 At current rates, power
requirements could double
in 5 years.
8
Key Barriers
Lack of efficiency definitions for equipment and
data centers (Being addressed by www.thegreengrid.org)


Service output difficult to measure, varies among applications

Need for metrics and more data:
How do we account for computing performance?
Split incentives

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Disconnect between IT and facilities managers
Risk aversion


Fear of change and potential downtime; energy efficiency perceived as
a change with uncertain value and risk
EPA Report: Call for Pilot Projects, Test
Centers, Federal Leadership by example
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Energy Efficiency Opportunities
Power
Distribution &
Conversions
10
Server Load/
Computing
Operations
Cooling
Equipment
Data Center Energy Use
Typical Data Center Energy End Use
Power Conversions
& Distribution
100 Units
35 Units
Cooling
Equipment
Server Load
/Computing
Operations
33 Units
Delivered
11
Typical Energy Flow/Use
Fuel Burned at Power Plant
Power
Conversion &
Distribution
12
Electricity
Generation &
Transmission
Losses
Delivered
Power
Cooling
Equipment
Server Load/
Computing
Operations
Typical Energy Flow/Use
Fuel Burned at Power Plant
Power
Conversion &
Distribution
13
Electricity
Generation &
Transmission
Losses
Delivered
Electricity
Cooling
Equipment
Server Load/
Computing
Operations
On-Site Generation further
reduces losses and emissions!
…ultimately reducing fuel burned at the power plant
Reducing power demand and losses
Lowering power conversion losses
Will reduce cooling needs
Reducing server power requirements
Energy Efficiency Opportunities
Cooling
Server Load/
• On-site generation
Equipment
Computing
• CHP applications
Operations
• Waste heat for cooling
• Use of renewable energy
• Load• management
Fuel cells
• Better air management
•
Server
innovation
High voltage distribution
• Move to liquid cooling
Use of DC power
• Optimized chilled-water plants
Highly efficient UPS systems
Alternative• Use of free cooling
Efficient redundancy strategies Power
Power
Conversion &
Distribution
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•
•
•
Generation
14
Thin Client Training Lab
Standard PC
Server
Thin Client
Server
UPS
UPS
Meter
Meter
PC Power Only
140
120
System
Idle
Monitors
Off
Power (W)
100
Start
Hibernation
80
60
40
Screen
Saver On
Start Standby
Mode
Full
Hibernatio
n Mode
20
0
16:00:29 16:02:30 16:04:31 16:06:32 16:08:33 16:10:34 16:12:35 16:14:36
Time (hr:min:sec)
PC with Single LCD Monitor
180
Syste
m Idle
160
Screen
Saver On
140
Power (W)
120
100
Monitor
s Off
Start
Standby
Mode
80
Full
Hibernatio
n Mode
60
40
Start
Hibernation
20
0
15:00:00 15:02:01 15:04:02 15:06:03 15:08:04 15:10:05 15:12:06 15:14:07
Time (hr:min:sec)
PC with Single CRT Monitor
250
System Idle
Screen Saver On
200
Power (W)
Monitors Off
150
100
50
0
11:54:14
Start Standby
Mode
11:58:16
12:02:18
Full
Hibernatio
n Mode
Start
Hibernation
12:06:20
Time (hr:min:sec)
12:10:22
12:14:24
350
300
Power (W)
250
PC with Dual CRT Monitors
System Idle
Screen Saver
On
Monitors Off
200
150
Start Standby
Mode
100
Full
Hibernatio
n Mode
50
Start
0
Hibernation
10:52:34 10:54:35 10:56:36 10:58:37 11:00:38 11:02:39 11:04:40 11:06:41
Time (hr:min:sec)
Thin-Client Cluster Monitoring
Thin Client Testing

Tested two exciting new Architectures
 “Cloud Computing Model
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Managed desktop, reboot to restore, hosted model
~70% energy reduction, 25% installed cost reduction
 X550 “Five head Graphics Adapter style
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•
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Standard Windows PC architecture\
Transparent to user
~70% energy reduction, 60% installed cost reduction
 Both Solar power compatible
IT Metering/Energy Productivity
Energy Productivity
CPU cycles vs CPU Utilization
180
11:31.2
160
10:04.8
140
CPU Cycle Count
Power (Watts)
Power vs. CPU Utilization
120
100
80
60
40
08:38.4
07:12.0
05:45.6
04:19.2
02:52.8
20
01:26.4
0
0
20
40
60
80
100
00:00.0
0
CPU Utilization (%)
20
40
60
80
100
CPU Utilization
Energy (Watt Hours)
Energy USe vs. Cycle Count
Energy (Watt Hours)
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
00:01.9
03:51.1
03:29.4
04:55.6
09:51.0
idle
benchmark
apps
50
100
0
00:00.0
02:52.8
05:45.6
CPU Cycle Count
08:38.4
11:31.2
Energy Use by Application
Application Energy Use (Watt-hours)
1.04
0.12
0.34
cpuSucker
RpcSandraSrv
1.67
Visual Studio
5.43
ccApp
Norton
explorer
Background
9.11
Average Utilization (44.98%)
35.43
Green Grid Computer

Supercomputer Cluster up!
 WSU paid for fiber connection between WSU and
GITA
 GITA bought additional switch gear to create “grid
cluster”
 WSU Added nodes with user demand

Future Directions
 Add long-haul connections between other
campuses and PNNL
 Add advanced architectures
Green Grid Cluster
Expanded Cluster
Thin Client Training Lab
Standard PC
Server
Thin Client
Server
UPS
UPS
Meter
Meter
Renewable Energy Powered
Enterprise IT Concepts

Use Renewable Energy as part of mission
critical power infrastructure for Enterprise
IT Networks
 Test Grid-Tie Systems with Battery Back-up to
act as the UPS/Back-Up Generation for
Enterprise IT Infrastructure
 Test Thin-Client Architectures with DC
Distribution and Battery Back-UP
Project Objectives

Solar/Wind Project
 Install Real Time Weather Monitoring
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Wind Speed, Direction, Incident Solar Radiation,
Temperature, Humidity, Pressure, etc.
 Install All Solar and Wind System
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Compare Power Distribution Architectures
Integrate Smart Grid Technology
Create Test Lab for Technical/Economic Assessment
Conduct Education/Outreach and Business Development
 Power Data Center/Plug-In Vehicle Charging
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Metered Power/Secure Identification
Auto-Connect (Bluetooth or RFID??)
Renewable Energy Project
Renewable Energy
Remote Site
Grid Transmission
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~
High Voltage
Transmission
DC/AC
Building Conversion and Distribution
PDU
UPS
480V 3
208V
or
120V
Power Supply
DC/DC
480V 3
AC/DC
DC/AC
AC/DC
DC/DC
DC/DC
+
DC
Energy
Store
DC/DC
DC/DC
Server
Renewable Energy Project
PDU
UPS
480V 3
208V
or
120V
Power Supply
DC/DC
480V 3
AC/DC
DC/AC
AC/DC
DC/DC
DC/DC
+
DC
Energy
Store
DC/DC
DC/DC
Server
Traditional Installation ~ $11,000/Server Installation Cost
• Cut out 5 conversion steps, should improve efficiency by 50% or more
Proposed Installation ~ $6,700/Server Installation Cost*
Architecture Option
Server Cluster Direct Coupled to Renewable Energy
Using Existing Power Distribution Infrastructure
Solar
Generator
Grid
120 V AC
Smart
Strip
Feed A
text
text
UPS
text
text
Power Supply A
text
text
text
150 VDC to 380 VDC
Power Supply B
Smart Strips are software
controlled to perform maximum
power point tracking (MPPT) by
switching load between AC and
DC sources.
Smart Strips are software
controlled to divert excess
power to a bank of batteries.
The servers can draw from the
batteries when solar production
decreases.
Smart
Strip
Feed B
Server Cluster
Battery Bank
400
172.62
50
162.39
100
73.86
Two Servers, One with Single
DC feed and one with AC and
DC Input
114.82
Two Servers, Each with one
Power Supply on AC and one
on DC
DC Power (W)
Two Servers, Each with one
AC Feed
150
One Server with one Power
Supply on DC
192.04
Server 1 with one Power
Supply on DC and one Power
Supply on AC
350
Server 1 with one Power
Supply on AC
Server 1 with both Power
Supplies on AC
Input Power (W)
Preliminary Results
500
450
248.54
303.03
214.896
Server 2 AC Power (W)
300
Server 1 AC Power (W)
250
200
112.792
172.161
112.7
83.368
0
Preliminary Results
Testing
Direct Server Coupling
 ~2-3% Efficiency Gain
 ~50% Installation Cost Reduction
Testing
UPS DC Operating
Characteristics/Efficiency
Project Updates

Solar Project Progress

Procured 54 Solar Panels, Outback Inverter, Battery Backup
System
Tested three architectures new architectures
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Direct Server Coupling at high voltage
Low voltage distribution for client terminals
Grid-tie with battery back-up installed as Server rack UPS
Installation Underway
Issues/Risks

Code compliance for new architectures/UL Certification of
designs, new components
Traditional Architecture
UPS
Standard PC
Clients
Grid-Tie Solar as IT UPS
Grid-Tie Inverter
Charge Controller
Battery Back-Up
DC Thin Client Architecture
4 to 8 times
Less Power than
Standard PC’s
Grid-Tie Inverter
Charger
Charge Controller
Battery Back-Up
Solar PC Cluster
UPS AC Power Draw (W)
250
Battery
disconnected from
UPS charging
system. 16 W
draw is UPS
200
parasitic power
draw.
DC Computer run
off of UPS
battery
PV
Disconnected
UPS Disconnected from AC
Source,
Both Cumputers Running
Off Battery and PV
150
AC computer
turn on to boot
up
100
PV Panels
Connected
AC and DC
systems
separated
50
0
11:22:34
11:29:46
11:36:58
Fluctuations
due to
passing
clouds
11:44:10
11:51:22
Time (hr:min)
Both cumputers
running on AC and
PV/battery in
parallel
11:58:34
12:05:46
AC and DC
systems
separated
12:12:58
Solar Installation
Metered Charging
Advanced Liquid Cooling

The use of liquid cooling of servers
enables reductions in power by rejecting
heat directly outside into ornamental
cooling ponds, or the re-use of heat for
office heating in the winter.
Ornamental Cooling
Ponds
Traditional Approach
Replace Tower with
Pond, in Summer. In
Winter, re-use Heat for
Office Spaces
Ornamental Cooling Pond
Server Heat Re-Use
 Water Line   
HEAT

Wind Power
Weather Monitoring and Data Collection
Living Roof
Interpretive Walk Restoration
Self Contained Solar Power Kiosk
Green Wireless
Rural Broadband Wireless Access/Subscriber
Computing
•
Partners
• Green IT Alliance
• Integration, Power Testing
• Galexis Technologies
• Wireless System
Design/Integration/Service
• First Step Internet
• ISP
• Safedesk
• Low Power Computer Platform
Interpretive Walk Restoration
Solar Powered Irrigation System
Conclusions

Green IT
 IT is a major power consumer
 A significant percentage of the power is wasted
 Opportunities exist to dramtically improve IT energy
efficiency
 IT can be a very beneficial part of the Green
movement