Green Computing

Cloud computing offers significant opportunities to reduce the impact of computing on the environment through Green Hosting. Services such as Infrastucture-as-a-Service, virtualisation and Software-as-a-Service all have the potential to use computing resources more efficiently and thereby reduce the per unit emissions of computing undertaken using the cloud. By raising utilisation rates of computing hardware an intelligently distributing computing to where spare resources exist, cloud computing can effectively support produce computing from the same physical hardware than traditional methods thereby offering a number of green computing advantages.

Beyond the inherent environmental advantages of using computing hardware more efficiently, what other actions can make computing less environmentally damaging?

CloudSigma’s strategy is to ‘Eliminate, Mitigate and Offset’. Computing remains fundamentally an environmentally unfriendly activity however it is one of the lowest environmental impact sources of new jobs and sustained economic growth. Technology driven growth has a vital role to play in the world economy and in the process of de-coupling world economic growth from ever increasing carbon dioxide emissions. This page does not seek to employ a ‘green wash’ approach to cloud computing, merely to outline the significant steps that have been taken towards making the impact of the CloudSigma’s cloud that much less and therefore providing an eco friendly hosting offering.

We have outlined below the various green IT measures we have employed that form our strategy of ‘Eliminate, Mitigate and Offset’ for eco web hosting and cloud computing:

Use Cleaner Electricity

By far the biggest impact of computing on the environment is through the emissions generated from the electricity needed to run physical computing hardware. Until electricity generation is largely sourced from renewable and low carbon methods this problem will remain the case.

CloudSigma action: We choose a location where electricity is generated in clean environmentally friendly ways. The Swiss electricity grid which feeds our data centre in Glattbrugg near Zurich, Switzerland is one of the cleanest in the world. Over 95% of electricity is generated from nuclear and renewable energy sources. This means electricity consumed in Switzerland results in emissions which are a small fraction of the level for equivalent consumption in other major economies such as the United Kingdom or United States which remain heavily reliant on fossil fuel generated electricity.

Reduce Energy Loss and Consumption by Data Centres

By combining computing hardware into one location data centres are significantly more efficient for their level of service than computing hardware in most non-specialised locations. They do however represent a source of very large electricity consumption due to the need for extensive cooling and other systems. New technologies and modern data centre equipment can increase substantially the efficiency of data centres.

CloudSigma action: We have chosen the Interxion carrier neutral data centre in Glattbrugg because it is a green data centre employing modern equipment and new technologies that aim to reduce the carbon emissions footprint of the centre. The energy efficiency of the new floor in the Interxion data centre where we are located is significantly below the European average qualifying it as the leading green data center in Europe.

Increase Server and Networking Equipment Efficiency

The efficiency of servers continues to get better thus reducing the per unit of output impact on the environment. It remains the case that there still exists large differences in efficiency performance between many modern servers. By employing servers that use energy efficient components and by employing an architecture that reduces electricity consumption, the electricity needs of a cloud can be reduced.

CloudSigma action: We work with our hardware consultants to choose modern servers which use electricity more efficiently. Many of our servers are custom built to serve the needs of our cloud and when doing so we choose components that will reduce electricity consumption such as green data storage drives. In addition we employ large server node sizes which reduce the intensity of power units and other high electricity consuming components in our cloud. Our servers consume up to 40% less than the average on a per unit of computing output basis. Such an approach not only makes environmental sense but good business sense also.

Offset Emissions that can’t be Eliminated

Offsetting carbon dioxide emissions will not solve the problem of reducing global carbon dioxide emissions on its own. We do however believe it has a role to play when employed jointly with the aims of eliminating and mitigating emissions as outlined above. In comparison to not offsetting emissions that remain it clearly represents a better approach environmentally.

CloudSigma action: We offset fully all carbon dioxide emissions that remain as a result of the electricity and the general operation of our company. By doing so we are reducing the net impact of our cloud computing and eco hosting (and that of all customers that use our cloud) on greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere to zero in the medium term. Whilst not a long-term solution to reducing and eliminating greenhouse gas emissions, carbon offsetting schemes channel funds into new renewable energy sectors and to increasing energy efficiency levels which is why CloudSigma views such schemes as important.

The end result of the above measures is that we reduce our overall emissions in comparison with some other Infrastructure-as-a-Service providers by up to 70%. Our remaining carbon footprint is fully offset via accredited carbon offset schemes.

We are proud to offer all our customers an efficient cloud computing platform with carbon neutral accreditation.

We chose the non-profit foundation MyClimate to assess and offset our emissions because of their uncompromising standards when choosing offset projects. Not only do they ensure that an offset scheme meets the highest standards in terms of greenhouse gas emission reduction but also that it makes a meaningful contribution to sustainable development.

CloudSigma is a fully carbon neutral company having chosen to work with MyClimate to assess then offset the total greenhouse gas emissions as a result of the company's operations. This includes not only the purchase of hardware and electricity to run this hardware but also employee journeys, business travel, office space, office consumables (such as paper) and employee food and drink

The complete approach taken to carbon offsetting by MyClimate means all customers of CloudSigma benefit from carbon neutral computing, included in our standard pricing.

One of the key reasons CloudSigma chose to use MyClimate was their strict standards when choosing offset projects. Not only do the projects that CloudSigma has invested in all meet the independent Gold Standard but also make significant contributions to sustainable development in the communities where they are based.

Below are some examples of the current MyClimate projects used for offsetting:

Efficient Energy Cookers in Peru

This project, in which different local non-governmental organizations in Peru are involved, primarily aims to improve the living conditions of the local population. To do so, the project introduces efficient cook stoves with chimneys, which are made using local materials.

The Qori Q’oncha Programme, in which different local non-governmental organizations in Peru are involved and managed by Microsol (social enterprise), primarily aims to improve the living conditions of the local population in the long run. After a deep study of proper technologies for local population the introduction and promotion of efficient cookers with chimneys through the programme turns as the best alternative for both environmental and social development. In addition to a positive contribution to the sustainable development onsite, this project also contributes to the alleviation of environmental degradation: The use of efficient cook stoves reduces demand for unsustainably managed firewood. This leads to a reduction of CO2 emissions and protects the local forest, while also reducing the amount of time the local population spends gathering firewood.

Please visit the dedicated project page at the MyClimate website for more information.

Biomass briquettes and efficient cookers in Uttarakhand, India

Previously climate-damaging coal was used in the Indian province Uttarakhand as fuel in the brick and iron production. The carbon offset project by myclimate promotes the use of briquettes made of renewable biomass from forest and agricultural waste. In addition, restaurants, temples, schools, and hospitals are supplied with efficient, smokeless cookers.

In India, many millions of tons of biomass waste accumulate annually from forestry and agriculture as well as from industrial production. Due to its low density and the high water content, this waste material cannot be directly processed.

The local organization Rural Renewable Urja Solutions Pvt. Ltd. (RRUSPL) now utilizes this waste raw material as fuel. Biomass briquettes are produced, which are then delivered to companies producing brick kiln and rod iron in the states of Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh in the north of India. This climate-friendly energy supply is thus replacing coal, a greenhouse gas-intensive fuel, in the kiln and iron production. The briquette machine is already successfully used in many parts of India and reduces the local population's dependence on fossil fuels.

Please visit the dedicated project page at the MyClimate website for more information.

Please visit the projects page at MyClimate.org for more details of other projects supported.