Green IT & the Green Gap: Page 3 of 4

Myth: Server consolidation with virtualization is a "silver bullet" to address PCFE issues.

Reality: Server virtualization for consolidation is only part of an overall solution that should be combined with other techniques, including lower power, faster and more energy-efficient servers, and improved data and storage management techniques.

Simply put, addressing PCFE issues -- or being green -- is an approach and practice for acquiring, managing, and utilizing IT resources to deliver application and data services in an economic and ecologically friendly manner for business sustainment. In going or being green by improving IT infrastructure and resource efficiency, doing more with less, and maximizing existing PCFE and energy to become more ecological friendly, you also enable a business to grow, diversify, and expand its use of IT, all of which have economic benefits.

For example, you can spend money to become green by buying carbon offset credits while you continue to operate IT resources including servers, storage, and networks in an inefficient manner. Or you can improve your efficiency by consolidating, boosting performance to do more work per unit of energy, reducing your PCFE impact and associated costs, and thus creating an economic benefit that also benefits the environment.

While businesses generally want to do what is good, including what is good for the environment (or at least put up a good story), the reality is that it's cold, hard economics -- particularly in the absence of regulations -- that dictate how businesses operate. This is where the green gap exists -- between going green to be green or to save money, as opposed to achieving and maintaining economic growth while benefiting the environment. In addressing business economics and operations to avoid bottlenecks and expenses while also helping the environment, alternatives that happen to be green are seen as more appealing and affordable.