Learn how we are working to transform how we use and produce energy.
Who Needs Skeletons? We’ve got Servers in the Closets.
Why we share this work for free
RMI is an independent nonprofit working to accelerate the clean energy transition. We publish research like this to inform decision-makers and drive real-world impact.
Our work is supported by philanthropy as well as partnerships, including fee-for-service engagements. This support makes it possible for us to share our independent insights for free.
If you find this work valuable, you can support it anytime.
Get more insights like this
Stay up to date with the latest research, analysis, and tools from RMI by opting in to receive occasional emails below. You’ll get new reports, event invitations, and practical insights to help us all accelerate the clean energy transition.
Loading form...
Your download should start automatically. If it doesn’t, click the download button below.
This work is made possible by philanthropy
RMI is a nonprofit supported by donors and partners. Philanthropy enables us to produce independent research and make resources like this freely available.
If you find this report valuable, please consider supporting our work. You can also explore how we partner with organizations to drive impact.
Jump to Section
IT Industry analysts estimate there are over 11 million servers in use in 2012, growing to almost 13 million by 2020. While many large data centers are addressing energy use, half of the energy consumption for U.S. data centers comes from small server rooms and closets. These server rooms are often overlooked, despite the significant opportunity to reduce energy through increased utilization, migrating computing needs to the cloud, and employing best practices for cooling and power supply. This presentation quantifies the energy use, and saving potential, for facilities ranging from small server rooms to multi-megawatt data centers. It also compares various sustainability metrics, discusses barriers that stem from lack of information and misaligned incentives, and covers the stats, metrics, and efficiency of moving to the cloud from on premise.
Related Insights
What Michigan’s Clean Community Financing Ecosystem Can Teach Other US Regions
Appliance Efficiency Standards: A Proven Tool for Affordability and Grid Reliability
Help build the clean energy future. Donate today.
Independent research. Real-world solutions. Supported by donors.
RMI can pursue the highest-impact climate and energy solutions because we’re supported by people who believe change is possible. Every gift helps advance the work needed to make clean energy the default choice worldwide.
For other ways to give to RMI, including checks or gifts of stock, please visit Other Ways to Give.
