Feature Story

April 22, 2008 - Earth Day lasts only 24 hours, but the awareness it generates has to persist year-round if we're to help protect the planet. This year as you're thinking deeper about what your organization can do to reduce energy consumption in the data center, Sun can help you meet that goal, so that on earth Day 2009 you can rest assured that you've both lowered energy costs and reduced your technology's load on the environment.

Getting Started

Many data centers have to approach infrastructure changes gradually because it isn't simple to just start replacing old equipment with new energy-efficient models. Sun takes that into account with Eco Innovation solutions that give data centers the flexibility to move forward a step at a time. It's a three-step approach to greening the data center: 1) assess, 2) optimize, and 3) virtualize. Sun offers an eco kit for each stage, helping customers move forward at a pace that is comfortable for them

Customers can enlist Sun's help or do it themselves with a set of pre-packaged, tools, resources, and methodologies. In either case, the expertise was gathered, and proved, during the eco-redesign of Sun's own datacenters.

For those seeking more guidance, Sun offers an Eco Services Suite to help them get started on the path to optimum energy efficiency. Sun last week announced the Sun Eco Advantage Program, which gives Sun partners even more tools, resources, and training options with which to develop eco-friendly IT practices.

Sun's Eco-Friendly Technology

Sun's portfolio includes eco-friendly innovations such as servers based on the breakthrough CoolThreads technology, versatile Sun Blade modular systems, the industry's broadest line of x64 systems, and storage and virtualization technology that helps streamline data center operations. Sun products help customers increase utilization and efficiency, reduce floor space and cooling requirements, minimize power surges and shortages, and stay up-to-date in a changing regulatory environment.

Sun is committed to minimizing the potentially harmful substances used in developing and manufacturing its products, including complying with all applicable substance legislation worldwide. Visit Sun's Hazardous Materials page for more information. Also, Sun's Global Product Returns Program provides environmentally friendly recycling or re-purposing of old equipment (both Sun and non-Sun) along with safe data disposal.

Customer Success

With its Eco Innovations solutions, Sun has helped organizations of all types achieve the goals of reducing energy costs and minimizing environmental impact.

Colorado State University
Sun partners with Colorado State University to make the CSU Engineering Academic Village a cutting edge, green technology academic facility. Find out more.

Siteworx
Sun helped Siteworx, an interactive design and application development organization, reduce rack space rental costs by 80% and decrease power consumption costs by 65%. Find out more.

United Utilities
With Sun technology and expertise, this northwest England utility saved 229 kilowatts and 1,000 BTU per hours, conserved data center floor space, and is on track to meet a corporate goal of reducing its carbon footprint by 8% over next five years. Find out more.

IN2P3 Computing Center
By using Sun Fire X4500 servers and other Sun technology, this French physics research organization achieved a 33% space savings with a solution that was also 66% cooler than the existing one. Find out more.

Casema
Sun technology helped this Dutch telecom reduced power consumption by 30% and data center space by 40%, while providing the scalability and flexibility required to support business growth and new services. Find out more.

Start Saving Money and the Planet

Sun's approach to Eco Responsibility has already had a measurable impact on its own business, enabling the company to cut costs and reduce CO2 emissions.

To find out how Sun technology and expertise can help your company achieve similar results, visit Sun's Eco Innovation web site. Or if you'd like to check out Sun's eco-friendly hardware with a free, 60-day trial, take a look at the Try and Buy Program.