Energy Efficient Data Center

According to the article “Yahoo Opens Energy Efficient Data Center” at informationweek.com, Yahoo! opened a data center that utilizes the cool climate of Niagara Falls to greatly reduce the plants energy consumption. The IT equipment is structured in long rows that allow the winds of the region to pass through and act as a natural coolant. The facility uses 40% less energy and 95% less water than the average data center because of its innovative design. The center is run entirely by hydroelectric power. In addition to being a fantastic environmental achievement, the building of the data center created over 500 construction jobs and employ over 125 workers will be employed permanently at the center. This new data center will be a valuable asset for Yahoo! not only because it will reduce energy costs, but also because it will gain the company credit as being environmentally concerned in the eyes of the public.

Yahoo!’s new data center, known as the Computing Coop, is a brilliant example of how corporations are using ground-breaking green technology to lower costs and increase efficiency. The facility has quickly made itself renowned for being one of the most efficient data centers in the world because it can tap into the falls unlimited hydroelectric energy source of Niagara Falls. By taking advantage of this strategic location Yahoo! will greatly cut the energy costs of the data center. In addition to this, the creation of the creation of the center was funded in part by a 9.9 million dollar grant from the Department of Energy. This large investment is proof of the fact that the government and businesses are recognizing the need to become more efficient. With clear benefits such as these, it is easy to see why so many organizations and individuals are turning to green energy.

The Computing Coop will also give Yahoo! good credit in the public eye by helping them market themselves as a green corporation. In a statement to the public Carol Bartz said, “Yahoo! Is serious about sustainability and is leading efforts to address climate change. That’s why we believe in creating highly efficient data centers that minimize the impact on the environment.” I do not doubt that this is an extremely significant motivation for the creation of the site; however I believe that the primary goal of such a data center is the good will that it will gain with the public. Many consumers are very environmentally concerned, and they will support companies that embrace earth friendly alternatives. The green industry is now a very powerful force in the United States economy, and I believe that Yahoo! is smart to take advantage of this trend. By implementing these more efficient servers, they can separate themselves from competitors such as Google or Bing. As an added bonus this project brought over 600 jobs to a region that been heavily affected by the recession. To effectively compete in today’s market corporations such as Yahoo! must utilize technology, yet at the same time they need to embrace the fact that being green and more efficient has become a top priority for Americans.