As the world’s content becomes further digitized and consumers, corporations, and governments turn to cloud computing platforms – specifically the data center – for their storage and application needs, managing data center waste becomes increasingly important. Less than near full utilization rates for the computing resources, rising energy costs, and e-waste management are just a few of the reasons why a focused attention on practicing sustainable management in the data center is essential. This research identifies several key foci of waste within the management of data centers, including: power, emissions, computing resource lifespan, facilities, and packaging methods. Furthermore this research identifies four roadblocks, or challenges, facing sustainability improvements within the data center. These challenges include: IT prioritization pressures, (lack of) governmental regulation, consumption-oriented cultures, and lagging academic support and innovation. By first recognizing these forms of waste and then coming up with innovative ways to address the technological, regulatory, and managerial challenges faced in data centers across the globe, data center management can move from a position of lagging to a position of leadership in the sustainability movement.
Research on cloud computing high-density data center infrastructure and environment matching technology
