Reducing cloud computing's carbon emissions in the business world Francine Bennett | Mastodon C

Who are Mastodon C? London-based startup Tools and services to make businesses' cloud computing massively greener Corporate mission: to reduce global emissions by 1%

'Public cloud' computing

Cloud computing is growing fast Source: The Economist

Carbon emissions are growing fast Year Source: Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Centre

"The world is locking itself into an unsustainable energy future which would have far-reaching consequences" International Energy Agency, November 2011

Source: McKinsey & Co IT is a big contributor to emissions

© 2006 Bruno & Lígia Rodrigues

Why target cloud computing? Usage is tripling year on year Major differences between cloud service providers Work is mobile and switching costs are low

Making it happen

The footprint of a cloud server Power draw of server PUE* of data centre Power source * Power Usage Effectiveness

What is PUE? 2KW used by servers Power for cooling, security, lighting, etc Data centre 4KW goes in Other energy losses

What is PUE? 2KW used by servers Power for cooling, security, lighting, etc Data centre 4KW goes in Other energy losses

Source: Amee/Defra How much do power sources differ? Grid emissions per kWh, by country

The footprint of a cloud server Power draw of server PUE of data centre Power source

"While this sounds like an interesting project, I'm afraid we don't make these sorts of data points available."

"OK, no problem. Is there any public industry data which you regard as high quality, which you would recommend if we're making estimates? Also would be great to know if [Company] has any green power or efficiency initiatives which we should be aware of in our modelling."

"While this sounds like an interesting project, I'm afraid we don't make these sorts of data points available." "OK, no problem. Is there any public industry data which you regard as high quality, which you would recommend if we're making estimates? Also would be great to know if [Company] has any green power or efficiency initiatives which we should be aware of in our modelling." "None that I'm aware of, but we continually and relentlessly seek even more efficient operations."

Determinants of footprint

Multiplier effect Physical design

Determinants of footprint Multiplier effect Physical design1.6

Determinants of footprint Multiplier effect Physical design1.6 Utilisation

Determinants of footprint Multiplier effect Physical design1.6 Utilisation1.2

Determinants of footprint Multiplier effect Physical design1.6 Utilisation1.2 Local climate

Determinants of footprint Multiplier effect Physical design1.6 Utilisation1.2 Local climate2.0

Determinants of footprint Multiplier effect Physical design1.6 Utilisation1.2 Local climate2.0 Power source

Determinants of footprint Multiplier effect Physical design1.6 Utilisation1.2 Local climate2.0 Power source 8.0

Determinants of footprint

The footprint of a cloud server Power draw of server PUE of data centre Power source

The footprint of a cloud server Power draw 380W PUE of data centre Power source

The footprint of a cloud server Power draw 380W PUE cooling Power source

The footprint of a cloud server Power draw 380W PUE cooling Power source depends on location

picture of oregon here © Wendell Ojai 2010

The footprint of a cloud server

This is Bruce.

Bruce needs to make his cloud computing greener.

Bruce's problems Latency Legal and data protection Cost FUD* and greenwash Lack of data *Fear, uncertainty, and doubt

Solving Bruce's problems Latency Legal and data protection Cost FUD* and greenwash Lack of data *Fear, uncertainty, and doubt

Solving Bruce's problems Latency Legal and data protection Cost FUD* and greenwash Lack of data *Fear, uncertainty, and doubt

Solving Bruce's problems Latency Legal and data protection Cost FUD* and greenwash Lack of data *Fear, uncertainty, and doubt

Isn't the cloud green already? Cloud computation is more efficient than using your own servers Cloud computation is greener than using your own servers

Isn't the cloud green already? Cloud computation is more efficient than using your own servers Cloud computation is greener than using your own servers

efficient green

From Time inc

© ThinkGeoEnergy

Isn't the cloud green already? Hardware efficiency is improving rapidly Footprint will drop to insignificant levels

William Stanley Jevons

2012 Simeon Bennett

Isn't the cloud green already? Hardware efficiency is improving rapidly Footprint will drop to insignificant levels

Solving Bruce's problems Latency Legal and data protection Cost FUD* and greenwash Lack of data *Fear, uncertainty, and doubt

Per Year, Virginia (AWS East) ==

The footprint of a cloud server

Solving Bruce's problems Latency Legal and data protection Cost FUD* and greenwash Lack of data *Fear, uncertainty, and doubt

Wrap up and summary

Recap Cloud computing is growing; its footprint is big; its footprint is a big part of global total emissions Cloud vendors are not willing to share data, but we can make good estimates Power source is the most important factor There are some dangerous myths. In particular, efficient doesn't mean green, and Jevons' paradox can swallow future efficiency gains We can put this all together to make businesses' cloud computing greener

Source: McKinsey & Co IT is a big contributor to emissions

From Time inc

© ThinkGeoEnergy

1%

We're on a mission to reduce global emissions by 1% "Herds of intelligent roaming compute jobs, migrating from datacentre to datacentre, in search of cold Francine