Greening your computing technology, the near and far perspectives

"Green" computing has become a popular and trendy topic. Many companies are exploring methods and policies to use green technologies. Most policies merely scratch the surface, however, of greening computing technology, often seen as a necessary energy evil. At Colorado State University, we have gone beyond the surface polish and explored some practical solutions to energy efficiency, consumption reduction, and environmental stewardship. Sensitive to the current economic climate, we will discuss how going green can have a significant positive impact on your budget as well. We will present a cafeteria-style plan that campus IT administrators can use to reduce energy use and to reduce or more efficiently use consumables. Projects range from server room (re)design and rethinking computing infrastructure, to energy-wise purchasing decisions and software performance controls. Thin client technology, facility planning, vendor collaboration, client base buy-in, virtualization, energy audits, and using software to balance performance and efficiency will all be on the menu. Wait until you hear how we incorporate the power of the bicycle into computing technology support!