JISC

JISC is publishing advice to help IT managers and information officers cut carbon emissions as UK universities and colleges come under mounting pressure from government, regulatory sources and the public, to cut their carbon emissions.

Through its Climate Change Act (2008), the UK government has a target to reduce carbon emissions by 80% by 2050. The education sector has therefore been asked to devise strategies that will make real energy savings, including the potential to generate its own energy using green technologies such as wind-turbines and solar panels.

One area identified by the JISC SusteIT report as having huge potential for reducing overall carbon emissions is the use of technology, such as vast computer suites and data storage systems. In fact, according to the report, about half of the ICT-related energy consumption in UK further and higher education institutions is accounted for by PCs.

In response to this, JISC has released today its ‘Top Tips for a sustainable IT department’, which identifies 10 simple steps for saving energy and money, whilst still responding to users’ needs.

Steps include enabling remote PC powerdown for computers, printers and other equipment when not in use. In fact, according to the Carbon Trust, an average computer suite of 50 terminals can save nearly 40 tonnes of carbon a year just by switching equipment off when not in use.

JISC also recommends IT managers and CIOs investigating a move to thin-client devices; that is devices such as PCs that rely on a server for their main storage and computation requirements, and therefore require less energy to run. It also suggests moving servers to dedicated data centres, designed specifically to run large servers more efficiently, as well as securely.

However, the problem is not simply one of technology use. The extraction and processing of materials for PCs also has a considerable environmental impact. According to the JISC SusteIT report, UK higher education institutions generate an average of 33 tonnes a year of electronic waste a year, spending an average £9,400 on management of this waste.

Therefore another easy way for IT departments to save both energy and money is to look at extending the life of their current IT equipment by checking, for example, that vents on the monitor, case, and printer have a good three to four inches of space to get good air flow, and that they are away from any cables or cubicle walls blocking them.

Finally, the higher education sector should look at investing in more sophisticated and intelligent IT infrastructures that, for example, enable better remote conferencing and flexible home working. This not only meets user needs, but reduces travel and the energy associated with it. The development of ‘smart’ buildings to control heating and lighting, can also reduce carbon emissions. One study (Climate Group Report, 2008) has found that ICT applications could reduce global carbon emissions by 15% in 2020, and avoid approximately five tonnes of carbon emissions for each tonne that they generate through production, use and disposal of equipment.

Robert Bristow, programme manager for JISC says, “IT systems are a huge drain on energy resources within the higher education sector thanks to an increased demand for data storage; with the growth in research output and our use of social networks, uploading large datafiles such as pictures and video files. There are many energy savings therefore to be made just by introducing simple measures that make IT systems more efficient and agile.

“These tips are a simple guide for IT managers and CIOs that want to reduce energy consumption within their department. To really drive energy reductions however, universities and colleges need to pull it all together; IT, estates, academic, support staff and student users, and formulate an action plan that sees energy efficiency measures at the heart of the academic culture. "

For more information about the report or download a copy.

JISC’s ‘Top Tips for a sustainable IT department’

1. Enable PC Powerdown for devices not in use
2. Investigate moving to thin-client devices or more efficient thick-client devices
3. Extend life of equipment
4. Consolidate and virtualise servers. Get servers out of departments and offices into properly designed data centres
5. Implement Hot/Cold aisle separation and containment. Look at the possibility of direct cooling of racks.
6. Install more efficient power supply units (PSU) and uninterruptible power supply systems (UPS)
7. Consolidate printers and enable duplex and monochrome printing by default
8. Reduce travel by maximising the opportunities for remote conferencing and flexible and home working
9. De-duplicate and rationalise data storage
10. Rationalise and simplify IT systems and architectures

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