Carbon accounting software can reduce IT wastage

News Article - 05 June 2008
Category: Business

Companies are increasingly looking at ways to reduce their annual energy and IT bills and carbonaccounting software can help to identify cost savings.

A recent study by infrastructure specialist LS Simple found that IT equipment in data centres is wasting businesses in the UK an estimated £10 million each year just on flashing lights.

According to the research, flashing computer lights are releasing around 50,000 tonnes of unnecessary carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere annually. The UK IT sector generates around two per cent of global carbon emissions a year, the same percentage as the aviation industry.

Most IT equipment, including switches, routers and computers, have light emitting diodes (LEDs) which "pointlessly" flash and waste energy.

Paul Eo, Europe regional manager of LS Simple, stated: "With many data centres consuming hundreds of Megawatts of power, the LED power consumption is a tiny fraction. However, when intelligent power management is deployed, data centre operations can often save 30 per cent of their consumed power."

LS Simple estimates that 21 million LEDs are flashing in UK data centres alone and notes that the UK government is providing support for companies that invest in intelligent power management.

Carbonaccounting software packages enable businesses to analyse their carbon footprint and make changes that can both save them money and reduce their impact on the environment.

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