In a simpler time, the energy and environmental costs of running an information and communication technology (ICT) facility were not the main concern of the info-center manager: They paled in comparison to maintaining the performance levels promised in service level agreements (SLA).
Recently, solutions for “greening” the data center have become a priority for C-level executives and IT managers alike, due to soaring energy costs, increased pressure from environmentalists, and costly new proposed federal legislation. Suddenly facility operators have to pursue a holistic approach, i.e., maximizing business metrics for service performance and availability, while minimizing the environmental (energy consumption and carbon footprint) costs of operating their ICT facility.
Unfortunately, most facilities don’t come with an easy-to-read owner's manual to guide operators through the process of balancing energy usage and reliability. A misfiring spark plug in a car is annoying and wastes gasoline, but inefficiencies in a data center could cost a company hundreds of thousands of dollars per month in energy charges, not to mention jeopardizing reliability.