SUSTAINABLE ICT IN UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES

- What is it, and how can we achieve it?

Peter James and Lisa Hopkinsonwww.susteit.org.uk

WHY BOTHER?

• A moral duty- environmental degradation- extreme social exclusion

• Tangible self interest- rising electricity costs- increasing regulation

• Intangible self interest- reputation- relevant curricula and research

THE BALANCE SHEET

• ICT ‘SUPPLY’- Energy and resource intensive, and polluting, production- (Sometimes) poor working conditions- High energy use in equipment

• ICT ‘DEMAND’- Travel substitution- Resource efficiency e.g. admin- Social inclusion- Awareness and information

WHERE DOES THE POWER GO?

• University of Sheffield- 18% of total non-residential electricity- PCs 48%- Servers 18%- High performance computing 14%- Imaging10%- Networking 8%

WHAT ARE THE WHOLE LIFE IMPACTS?

Materials

Manufacture

Transport

Use

Disposal

WHAT CAN WE DO - ADMIN?

• IT pays the energy bills

• Better, more widely applied, whole life costing models

• More cross-functional activity- especially IT and Estates

WHAT CAN WE DO – TECHNICAL?

• Simple measures- powerdown; lower power devices; grid computing; life extension- print management; easier duplex etc- energy efficient config & eqt in data centres

• Complex measures- thin client; virtualisation; storage; software

BACKGROUND

• Higher Education Environmental Performance Improvement- Green Gown Awards - www.heepi.org.uk

• Sustainable IT in Tertiary Education- Strategic review of IT in universities- Identifying & disseminating good practice- www.susteit.org.uk

AN INVISIBLE BURDEN

~30 components

~28 kg materials

~35 kg production waste

~32 kg use-related waste assoc. ~end of life

LIFE CYCLE WASTE FROM PCS

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Desktop Laptop CRT LCD

To

tal

was

te (

kg)

Production

Distribution

Use

End of life

Source: IVF, 2007. Preparatory studies for Eco-design Requirements of Energy Using Products

LIFE CYCLE ENERGY FROM PCSSource: IVF, 2007. Preparatory studies for Eco-design Requirements of Energy Using Products

-2000

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

14000

16000

Desktop Laptop CRT LCD

To

tal

En

erg

y (M

J)

Production

Distribution

Use

End of life

LIFE CYCLE ENERGY OF PRINTERS

Source: Franzhofer IZM and PE Europe, 2007. Preparatory studies for Eco-design Requirements of EuPs

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

Excl. Paper Incl. Paper

To

tal

En

erg

y (G

J)

Production

Distribution

Use

End of life

www.gridcomputingnow.org

ELECTRICITY CONSUMPTION

• UK- ICT 10% of total- fastest growing component

• University of Sheffield- 16% + of electricity- 13% + of carbon emissions

• High wastage- CPUs 10-20% utilisation- Eqt switched on

WHY IT MATTERS TO FHE

• Cost- 50 to 100% rise in electricity prices?

• Carbon- growing regulation- Carbon Reduction Commitment

• Capacity

The Coal-Powered Computer

PROCUREMENT - REDUCING ENERGY IMPACTS IN USE

• Fit for purpose – faster, higher spec machines generally use more energy

• PCs: laptops 50-80% less energy than desktop/CRT; LCD monitor 50% less energy than CRT

• Imaging: Inkjets less energy than laser; b/w less energy than colour; MFDs less energy than SFDs. Duplex facility essential

• Consider energy use in idle and standby• Procure the most energy efficient equipment that meets

requirements

PROCUREMENT – REDUCING ALL IMPACTS OVER LIFE-

CYCLE• Dematerialise – smaller, lighter devices: MFDs

rather than SFDs; laptops or thin clients rather than desktops; LCDs rather than CRTs

• Extend useful life of product – recycle internally and refurbish

• Reduce toxic compounds – as of 1/2/08 all EEE on market should comply with ROHS

• Facility to return product to producer end of life, free of charge

PROCUREMENT – REDUCING IMPACTS OF PAPER

• Duplex facility for imaging equipment

• Built in user codes to record usage

• Print management software (e.g. GreenPrint)

• Procure recycled paper (lower embodied energy) and ensure high rates recycling

• Educate users- review/store online

GREEN DESKTOPS

• Powerdown networked computers

• Switch off and power manage computers & peripherals

• Grid computing

• Thin client

SERVER END USE

Server Load/ComputingOperations

Cooling Equipment

Power Conversions

& Distribution100

Units

33 UnitsDelivered

35 Units

Source: US EPA

SERVER OBJECTIVE

Typical Practice Better Practice

Server Load/ComputingOperations

Cooling & Power

Conversions Server Load/ComputingOperations

Cooling & Power

Conversions

Source: US EPA

Server Load/ComputingOperations

Cooling Equipment

Power Conversion & Distribution

AlternativeEnergy Supply

High voltage distributionUse of DC powerHighly efficient UPS systemsEfficient redundancy strategies

Power efficiency & managementConsolidation/VirtualisationInformation life cycle management

Better air managementFree/efficient coolingEfficient liquid coolingFlexibility and control

On-site renewablesWaste heat for coolingFuel cellsThermal storage

ENERGY EFFICIENT SERVERSAdapted from US EPA original

OVERCOMING BARRIERS

• Lack of awareness and information- footprinting and energy bills

• Unsupportive financial frameworks- whole life costs

• Lack of capacity- departmental champions; networks