JISC

Overview

Recent years have seen a massive increase in ICT use in HE/FE and a significant rise in energy consumption attributable to this use. Estates divisions at UEA and elsewhere have also been implementing innovative solutions to provide more sustainable heating, cooling and power.

This project will investigate and implement energy saving strategies for ICT services using a combination of IT and estates based measures. A feasibility study for using UEA’s low carbon power generation facilities and green field site to host a regional data centre for HE/FEs will also be undertaken.

Aims and objectives

The project aims to determine the energy consumption of UEA’s data centre and desktop computers and to implement cost effective strategies to reduce this without compromising service quality. Guidelines will be produced to aid other HE/FEs.

The objectives of the project are to:

• Measure the energy consumption and CO2 emissions of UEA’s data centre(s) and desktop computers and implement strategies to reduce these
• Develop a business case for a UEA hosted regional HE/FE data centre taking advantage of UEA’s location and low carbon power generation
• Review and revise UEA’s ICT policies to support sustainable practices

Project methodology

A project team of staff from IT Services, Estates, Environmental Science and Computing Science will work together to identify the most appropriate strategies for lowering ICT energy consumption. Monitoring and measuring of energy consumption will be undertaken to give a baseline against which the effect of energy saving measures will be evaluated.

Anticipated outputs and outcomes

For the institution

• More energy efficient ICT services for UEA
• Strategic and technical guidelines for further improving sustainability of ICT services and allowing for future expansion
• Revised ICT policies to support sustainability
• Feasibility study on direct utilisation of photo-voltaic power for ICT use
• Business case for a hosted regional HE/FE data centre at UEA

For JISC/HE

• Full report detailing methodology, implemented measures and costs/benefits of the project
• Guidelines for HE/FE to aid improvements in energy efficiency of ICT
• Best practice video for sustainable ICT services
• UEA hosted conference on sustainable ICT services

Lead Institution

• University of East Anglia