Do Sri Lankans think about GREEN Data Centers?

After the war we are growing fast, means we have to think differently to overcome new challenges in our journey.

I'm only focusing on how are we full-filling growing DC requirement while optimizing power usage or saving the Environment.

We have to plan how optimize DC power management with coming big DCs like e-NIC, Defense and expansion of existing DCs in every aspect.

What is mean by every aspect ? it means not only cooling...have to thinking about energy-efficient cabling(moving UTP to TwinAx and NA to CN Adapters ), lighting, energy-efficient HW( servers, UPSs- Delta Conversion, Processors, ect ) and Virtualization techniques to optimize HW resource utilization.

Why we should concern about alternate power sources ?

Minimize the Energy cost while reducing the CO2 emission in the rapid Data center expansion is a Global challenge. As a Sri Lankans we should have more concern about the power management since presently we are facing a Power Hungry situation and high prices per unit due to that ( not talking about the route cause ).

We heavily depend on Hydro power and now can't expand any more therefore have to select other alternative sources but carefully. Because this is an Island with high population density therefore we have limited natural resources compared to some big countries. We have limited space for cultivation, Forest reserves to support monsoons, Rivers that should be strictly protected to continue general lifestyle then there is a limitation for Coal/Diesel power plants and not possibilities for Nuclear power.

Challenge - Power generation vs protect Environment

We can't move our DCs to Iceland for free cooling :P but we can think about possible alternatives like solar based power generation or natural air to cool and operate the DCs. I visited IBM DC in Bangalore which is using solar power for DC operations, it should be possible in SL since most of the days shinning sun is a default situation in most of the places in most of the days throughout the year but in Bangalore 80 % of the time the sun isn't shining brightly enough...but THEY TRY.

Sri Lankan public/private organizations have to think about how to absorb global accepted standards (e.g EUCoC ) and technologies (cabling, processor, virtualization, ect ) which save power while increasing processing capabilities then redesign old power-hungry DCs and maximize energy optimization in coming DC designs.

By mixing global standards and our own smartness we can archive modern DCs demand with economical price while protecting the environment.