It is not because we don't see them that they don't exist, the thousands and thousands of computers, gathered in large Data Center, which are used to run the Internet, or the companies software. Those Data Centers are a huge source of pollution. Therefore we start to hear about 'Green IT'. But is it possible to transform Data centers when they are not Green by Nature?
Data Centers are by nature not Green - I believe that Data Centers can't be totally green. By reducing the ecological impact of one need of the Data Centers, it will grow another consumption on another hand. This problem can't be solved, it can only be reduced a little.
Data Centers need electricity (A Lot) - Data Centers must be placed close from powers generator. In order to make the Data Center green, we will prefer to use Green Electricity. But being close from this electricity (waterfall electricity, solar energy) brings new problems. If we are using solar energy, it means that we will have to use more air conditioning, and if we use waterfall energy, it is likely to mean that our centers will be far away from home. We will need to use larger optical fibber, which will need more energy.
Data Centers need air conditioning - Because there are so many computers in a very small space, the temperature is growing very fast in Data Centers. This is why they all use air conditioning. Going into cold country (top North, or top South of the world) would make it easier to cool the computers, just by using the outside ambient air. But Once again it will increase the distance between the user, and the Data Centers. More Fiber will be needed are therefore more power.
Data Centers need access to the network - Data Centers must be accessed through very large bandwidth network. This is why they are often located close from the center of the network (Backbone). This need is likely impossible to be decreased with a model of a unique Data Center.
Data Centers need security and duplication - Data Centers need to be secure since all Data are stocked in a single point. In order to lower the risk of Data Loss, we use the replication of Data. Many persons think duplication is enough to guaranty the safety of Data, I wouldn't bet on it. Those people don't know the 'Murphy law'. In order to be comfortable with the security of Data, we will have to duplicate them once, two, three time, which will also multiply the carbon impact of the Data Center.
So is it impossible to do Green IT? I would say no, we just have to think differently. We are currently centralizing all the problems and by doing so increasing them. We could maybe distribute them and even decrease them. The solution is, according to me, Distributed Cloud Computing. Distributed Cloud Computing is a solution where servers are not put in the same place, but everywhere, one by one, where they can access the Internet. You can take a look at what VIFIB does.
Distributed Cloud Computing is more secure - Because all data are not in the same place, it is really difficult, I would say nearly impossible to lose your Data. Even if you lose from time to time a small amount of Data, it won't be too damageable.
Distributed Cloud Computing needs less network capacity - If Internet was managed on a distributed cloud, the information will be spread everywhere and will be more likely to be close from where we are accessing it. The distributed cloud will take a look at where is the closest server which can provide us with the information. Then we won't have to access a server on the other side of the world.
Distributed Cloud Computing don't need Air Conditioning - Because there is only one or two computers in the same place, we don't have to cool them. Their impact on the ambient temperature is negligible.
Distributed Cloud Computing will require less electricity - Because the server will be closer from the access point, because we don't need air conditioning, because we use less replication, we already saved a lot of energy. But we can even go further. On a completely distributed Internet, we can imagine a smart grid. A grid which will take into account the electricity demand of where is located the server to decide if it should use it now or not. For example during the evening, when everyone is using the electricity, the servers won't be used, but early the morning, or during the day when the electricity is cheap and the demand is low, the servers will be used.
It seems to me that Distributed Cloud Computing is the solution to optimize the use of resources and therefore the impact of Internet and of the information technology on the environment. It is time to think differently and to innovate to create an environment-friendly Internet.
You can take a look at what VIFIB does.
Sources
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