2. The Greening of IT at the University of Michigan
Paul Killey
Executive Director of Information Technology
College of Engineering
The Greening of IT at the University of Michigan

3. The Environmental Impact of the IT Industry
Supply Chain
Chemical and Materials Handling
Industrial Processes
Manufacturing
Transportation
Recycling
MI Digital Government Summit
10/5/2007

4. The Role of the “Enterprise” Customer
From the customer’s perspective, their operating costs are more immediate and probably more important than the other industry items.
A big part of the operating costs are electricity and HVAC systems that deal with the heat generated by using the electricity.
These costs are becoming more noticeable and represent bills that must be paid.
MI Digital Government Summit
10/5/2007

5. The Role of the “Enterprise” Customer
Vendor Relations
Procurement and Purchasing
Stewardship
Awareness of Cost of Ownership
Employee Training
Sharing the Message
MI Digital Government Summit
10/5/2007

6. Trends Electricity is not becoming less expensive.
IT is not becoming less important.
Computing demands are not lessening
Bigger problems can be solved.
It turns out that hardware designers are pretty good.
The visibility of environmental issues.
MI Digital Government Summit
10/5/2007

7. Some Trends at U-M
Partnerships and commonalities between our plant and facilities groups, central administration, and academic units.
is an example of a stewardship approach supported by U-M’s Occupational Safety and Environmental Health.
summarizes activities in U-M’s Utilities & Plant Engineering department.
Was IT falling behind?
MI Digital Government Summit
10/5/2007

8. Some Trends at U-M
Student awareness, both in their personal lives and in their academic interests.
The Michigan Memorial Phoenix Energy Institute (
The Graham Environmental Sustainability Institute (
MI Digital Government Summit
10/5/2007

9. More Beans for the Bean Counters
Environmentals as an explicit part of the cost of ownership calculation.
Where to associate those costs?
Relationship to other costs
Risk management
Information Security
Thin clients
Better desktop management
MI Digital Government Summit
10/5/2007

10. Working With Vendors Benjamin Franklin and Green Computing
“Do well by doing good.”
Product Awareness
Business Case
Effective RFP / RFQ Process
Software (and Datacenters) as Service
MI Digital Government Summit
10/5/2007

11. Climate Savers
“Intel Corporation and Google Inc. joined with Dell, EDS, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), HP, IBM, Lenovo, Microsoft, PG&E, World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and more than 25 additional organizations today (June 12, 2007) announced the Climate Savers Computing Initiative”
MI Digital Government Summit
10/5/2007

12. Climate Savers
One focus is on improving the efficiency of power supplies and mother boards.
July 2007 – June 2008 meet Energy Star requirements.
Each year after that through 2010 the standard specifies increasing minimum efficiencies for powers supplies
Volume servers (1U/2U) have similar (just slightly higher) requirements than desktops / laptops.
Another focus is developing demand for these systems.
MI Digital Government Summit
10/5/2007

13. Data Center Issues Fully utilizing the hardware Efficient hardware
Virtualization
Capacity planning and configuration
Efficient hardware
Use of power from the plug
Processor and power supply
Efficient space
Use of power from the power meter
ing.pdf
MI Digital Government Summit
10/5/2007

14. Desktop / Laptop Issues
Capabilities of the hardware
Power supplies
Capabilities of system software
Power management as part of a managed desktop
At U-M, this is one driver for developing a campus-wide and shared MS Vista image.
MI Digital Government Summit
10/5/2007

15. Building Management
A (surprising) relationship between building management and A/V?
InfoComm and the Continental Automated Buildings Association ( offered an “Intelligent Building Leadership Forum” at the 2007 InfoComm Conference.
MI Digital Government Summit
10/5/2007

16. Summary
At U-M a comprehensive approach to environmental issues is being cultivated and supported.
A complex set of financial and operational issues are playing out.
IT is developing its role in a context where it can be both a leader and a partner.
Participating with external organizations and companies is an important part of this.
It is an important issue for the State of Michigan.
MI Digital Government Summit
10/5/2007