Is cloud computing a green solution?
In recent years, cloud storage has emerged as the preferred solution for businesses looking to improve scalability and flexibility while cutting costs. However, beyond the benefits of enhanced efficiency and productivity, cloud storage is also offering businesses an environmentally friendly option where they can reduce their carbon footprint and become more sustainable.
Businesses can improve their efficiency and overall sustainability by reducing power consumption and infrastructural requirements and scaling down operations, among other parameters.
Resource sharing means improved efficiency
One primary benefit of switching from on-premise to cloud storage is reduced overall power consumption. Traditional data centres are often less efficient than cloud data centres due to lower utilisation rates, which can result in equipment being purchased and provisioned in anticipation of usage spikes. By contrast, cloud data centres encourage sharing of resources and consolidation of equipment. It also allows for the operation of servers in such a way that there are high utilisation rates, therefore, reducing inefficiencies and boosting productivity.
Proximity reduces losses
Public cloud data centres are typically located closer to essential power facilities. This helps in reducing transmission losses and resulting in greater power efficiency. As expected, growth in demand for data storage continues to grow, businesses can pivot to cloud storage to ensure that storage remains energy-efficient, thereby reducing their overall carbon footprint and making their sustainability goals more attainable.
Lessons learnt
Fortunately, cloud storage providers are taking steps to make their services even more sustainable. The Big cloud providers have pledged to decarbonise their data centres fully. Although these companies have not entirely switched to renewable energy, they have all made significant progress in improving power usage effectiveness and limiting data centre emissions. By investing in renewable energy credits, these companies are helping to generate tokens produced when a green power source generates one megawatt-hour of electricity and sends it to the grid. Cloud storage providers, regardless of their size, can learn valuable lessons from the operations of major industry players. By adopting innovative technologies, they can reduce their operating costs. One such technology that small and medium players in the industry can implement is the liquid immersion cooling technology. This innovative solution is helping data storage companies save significantly on their operating costs and stay green.
Artificial intelligence in cooling
Cloud providers are innovating in data centre efficiency by implementing artificial intelligence (AI) technology to improve cooling management. Cooling is one of the primary sources of energy use in a data centre, so by applying AI-powered management, cloud storage providers can effectively manage their cooling equipment to improve overall energy efficiency. The big cloud storage providers have been sharing their data centre performance information with the rest of the industry, which can lead to significant efficiency gains for the entire sector.
Overall, cloud storage offers businesses a viable green option for data storage. By switching from on-premise to cloud storage, companies can reduce their carbon footprint and become more sustainable while enjoying enhanced efficiency and productivity. With major cloud providers leading the way in renewable energy and efficiency innovations, more companies can follow suit and make cloud storage a greener option for data storage.
