An Inconvenient Data Center

摘要

The truth about many vaunted green IT initiatives is that they're just ROI-based business decisions wrapped in environmentally friendly packaging. With the power used, by data centers doubling over the past five years and the national average rate for electricity jumping 44% since 2004, for example, it's no mystery why more efficient data centers are all the rage. But as the economy continues to slow down, will initiatives that focus on the broader environment and cost a bit-or a lot-more be slashed, regardless of their positive impact on the planet? Don't bet your carbon credits on IT sticking to its green guns: A mere 12% of the 419 business technology professionals we surveyed in our Information-Week Analytics Green IT Survey say they're willing to pay more for a greener product. And while we're being honest, let's admit that virtualiza-tion isn't about being green. Sure, it's a great side benefit, but 76% of respondents list greenness as a minor cog in the decision to virtualize.