Sustainability in Information Technology

Computing and Information Technology

From research labs to staff desks to student dorms, computers are a way of life here at Stanford. Everywhere you go on campus, you are in the midst of technology. Stanford hosts approximately 35,000 desktop and laptop computers and has roughly 6000 servers used for administrative and research computing. All of this equipment is a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions, especially when every stage of its production and use lifecycle is accounted for, such as manufacturing, use, and disposal. In addition, computers generate heat and it often takes as much energy to cool computing equipment as it takes to run it. Approximately 15% of our campus electricity energy use is due to our IT infrastructure.

The Sustainable IT program began as a joint effort between the Department of Sustainability and Energy Management (SEM) and Information Technology (IT) Services to address sustainability issues for both the equipment and the energy used to run it. The ultimate goal is to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions caused by computing and information technology-related activities.

Programs that reduce greenhouse gas emissions from IT result in costs savings as well. As Stanford becomes more efficient in running the computing infrastructure, the campus is purchasing less hardware, using less electricity, reducing cooling needs, and recycling more electronic waste.

Goals & Results

The goal of Sustainable IT is to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions generated by our IT infrastructure. This includes reducing the energy needed to run our computing infrastructure, the cooling needed to keep equipment running, the energy used to build the systems, and the electronic waste produced when equipment is disposed of. Sustainable IT also aims to inform and educate the community on the benefits of more energy efficient computing, both at the desktop and in the datacenter.

Results so far:

Desktop Computing & Office Equipment

  • With 35,000 desktop and laptop computers on campus, saving energy one computer at a time can have a big impact. Stanford’s desktop energy saving program includes centrally-funded desktop power management software for all faculty, staff and students, moving backups and patches from night to day, putting computers in sleep mode, and reducing peripheral energy usage by providing special pricing with smart power strips. Turning off monitors and putting computers to sleep when not in use is estimated to save the University over 2 million kWh/year in electricity usage.
  • For computer purchases, 100% of recommended computers are EPEAT-rated, and nearly all are EPEAT Gold. Procurement includes Energy Star requirements in all RFPs where available and offers an exchange program for old printers.

Datacenters

  • Stanford’s primary datacenters have achieved a PUE rating of 1.8, and we are in the middle of an energy retrofit project that is expected to bring that number down even further. With our new instrumentation, we will have continuous PUE monitoring and automated controls to maximize outside air cooling. Additionally, we are evaluating the server rooms across the campus to determine energy efficiency and make design recommendations.
  • Stanford has designed, and is proceeding with the building of, an energy-efficient Scientific Research Computing Center that uses outside air almost exclusively for cooling.

Energy Savings Enabled by IT

  • IT Services provides a ‘work anywhere’ toolkit that allows staff to work remotely and save the greenhouse gas generated from commute trips.
“If we are to leave our children a better world, we must take steps now to create a sustainable environment. So it is critical that we model sustainable citizenship on our own campus.”
— John Etchemendy
Provost, Stanford University
The Energy Retrofit Program has delivered an estimated cumulative savings of over 240 million kilowatt-hours of electricity since it began in 1993—and prevented 72,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions.
Stanford is developing global solutions to climate change and putting them into practice on campus.
New buildings must use 30 percent less energy and 25 percent less potable water than similar traditional buildings.
Systems retrofits to the most energy-intensive buildings on campus are expected to save $4.2 million a year and cut energy use by 28 percent.
About 40 percent of Stanford Dining produce is organic or regionally grown; some is even grown on campus.
About 60 percent of Stanford’s total contiguous land remains undeveloped.
Recycled paper is less expensive than virgin paper under the campus-wide office supply contract.
From 2002 to 2008, the percentage of Stanford employees driving alone to campus dropped from 72 to 51 percent.
Stanford diverted 64 percent of its solid waste from landfills in 2008—more than 14,500 tons.
Stanford completed 50 major water efficiency retrofit projects from 2001 through 2008, pushing down average domestic use from 2.7 million gallons per day (mgd) in 2000-01 to less than 2.3 mgd in 2007-08, despite campus growth.
The goal of Sustainable IT is to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions generated by our IT infrastructure.
The goal of Sustainable IT is to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions generated by our IT infrastructure.
Stanford invests IN sustainability through a broad range of initiatives in research, education, efficiency improvement, conservation systems, new technology, student-led projects and more.
New buildings must use 30 percent less energy and 25 percent less potable water than similar traditional buildings.
New buildings must use 30 percent less energy and 25 percent less potable water than similar traditional buildings.
Systems retrofits to the most energy-intensive buildings on campus are expected to save $4.2 million a year and cut energy use by 28 percent.
About 40 percent of Stanford Dining produce is organic or regionally grown; some is even grown on campus.
From 2002 to 2008, the percentage of Stanford employees driving alone to campus dropped from 72 to 51 percent.
Stanford diverted 64 percent of its solid waste from landfills in 2008—more than 14,500 tons.
Stanford diverted 64 percent of its solid waste from landfills in 2008—more than 14,500 tons.
The Energy Retrofit Program has delivered an estimated cumulative savings of over 240 million kilowatt-hours of electricity since it began in 1993—and prevented 72,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions.
Stanford completed 50 major water efficiency retrofit projects from 2001 through 2008, pushing down average domestic use from 2.7 million gallons per day (mgd) in 2000-01 to less than 2.3 mgd in 2007-08, despite campus growth.
New buildings must use 30 percent less energy and 25 percent less potable water than similar traditional buildings.

Recognition

  • Business Continuity Data Center, $48,000 rebate from PG&E (2009)
  • School of Medicine Server Virtualization Project, $8,987.76 rebate from PG&E (2009)
  • Desktop Power Management, $54,999.60 rebate from PG&E (2008)