APPORTIONING AND REDUCING DATA CENTER ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS, INCLUDING A CARBON FOOTPRINT
First Claim
1. One or more computer-readable storage media embodying computer useable instructions for performing a method of apportioning an environmental impact of a data center, said method comprising:
- identifying at least one data center and an application, wherein said application is selected from a group consisting of a server, a virtual machine, an amount of storage, and an amount of bandwidth;
calculating a total amount of electricity consumed by said at least one data center;
calculating an environmental impact of said at least one data center; and
determining an apportioned amount of the environmental impact per said application.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Determining and apportioning the environmental impacts of a data center provides useful business intelligence for data center consumers. In one embodiment, apportioned carbon footprints are determined by identifying a data center and an application, determining the carbon footprint of a data center, and apportioning the carbon footprint on an application-specific basis. Apportioned carbon footprints are then selectively utilized as disclosed, such as, for example, to selectively adjust data center load. Other embodiments include different environmental impacts, including water consumption.
61 Citations
20 Claims
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1. One or more computer-readable storage media embodying computer useable instructions for performing a method of apportioning an environmental impact of a data center, said method comprising:
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identifying at least one data center and an application, wherein said application is selected from a group consisting of a server, a virtual machine, an amount of storage, and an amount of bandwidth; calculating a total amount of electricity consumed by said at least one data center; calculating an environmental impact of said at least one data center; and determining an apportioned amount of the environmental impact per said application. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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8. A method of assessing relative carbon dioxide usage at a data center, said method comprising:
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(a) identifying a first plurality of data centers, a second plurality of data centers, and an application, wherein said first plurality of data centers are commonly owned or commonly operated; (b) calculating a first total amount of electricity consumed at said first plurality data centers and a second total amount of electricity consumed at said second plurality data centers; (c) calculating a first total amount of carbon dioxide emitted as a result of generation of said first total amount of electricity consumed at said first plurality of data centers and calculating a second total amount of carbon dioxide emitted as a result of generation of said second total amount of electricity consumed at said second plurality data centers, wherein calculating said second total amount of carbon dioxide emitted as a result of generation of said second total amount of electricity consumed at said second plurality data centers comprises utilizing national, regional or industry averages representative of carbon dioxide emissions per unit of electricity consumed; (d) determining a first apportioned amount of carbon dioxide emitted as a result of generation of said first total amount of electricity consumed at said first plurality of data centers per said application; (e) determining a second apportioned amount of carbon dioxide emitted as a result of generation of said second total amount of electricity at said second plurality of data centers per said application; and (f) comparing said first apportioned amount of carbon dioxide emitted to said second apportioned amount of carbon dioxide emitted. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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14. One or more computer-readable storage media embodying computer useable instructions for performing a method of prospectively minimizing data center-related carbon dioxide emissions, said method comprising:
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identifying a first data center; identifying a second data center; identifying an application; calculating an expected first amount of electricity consumption at said first data center; calculating an expected second amount of electricity consumption at said second data center; calculating an expected first amount of carbon dioxide emitted as a result of the generation of said expected first amount of electricity consumption; calculating an expected second amount of carbon dioxide emitted as a result of the generation of said expected second amount of electricity consumption; determining an expected first apportioned amount of said expected first amount of carbon dioxide; determining an expected second apportioned amount of said expected second amount of carbon dioxide; comparing said expected first apportioned amount to said expected second apportioned amount; determining whether said expected first apportioned amount or said expected second apportioned amount has a lower expected amount of carbon dioxide emission; and selectively utilizing said application at a data center determined to have the lower expected amount of carbon dioxide emitted.
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Specification