1. as goes japan so goes the world - by doug mohney

    Views and Opinions on Green IT (Jun 9 2011)

    1. as goes japan so goes the world - by doug mohney

      The Japanese government is warning of electricity shortages this summer and has gone so far as to encourage businessmen to dump their suits and ties to save energy.  And Fujitsu has announced dramatic measures to cut its peak power usage by over 15 percent this summer in offices and factors located in areas served by Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) and Tohoku Electric Power. 

      Yes, what we'd call "casual days" are now national policy in Japan, because everyone has to dial back the air conditioning to 28 degrees C to save power.  Under the "Super Cool Biz" campaign being promoted by Japan's Environment Ministry, ties and jackets are out.  Ministry employees will set the example by wearing T-shirts and maybe even Hawaiian shirts - no torn jeans or shorts, but sneakers are allowed.

      It is not known how well the stuffy, button-down culture will react to ditching its formalwear. Some companies are already saying they aren't going to meet with clients while wearing polo shirts while retailers see some hope in selling lighter summer clothes.

      Most North American data center employees I know were with the "Super Cool Biz" Japanese dress code over a decade ago, but the thermostat has always been stuck at a cool 68 degrees F.   It might be worth an experiment in your own data center to simply dial up the temperature by two degrees per week for a couple of weeks and see what happens -- unless you're already set at 78 degrees F, in which case you might be tempting fate and your own comfort a bit too much.

      Fujitsu -- a $55 billion company -- is going way beyond dress code to cut power usage.  The company is going to relocate or temporarily shut down 3,600 of its 10,000 development and business servers. Manufacturing shifts will be moved to night hours in order not to impact its customers. In addition, the company has vowed to continue the power-saving measures it has already implemented, including cutting the use of elevators and lighting, suspending the use of water heaters and refrigerators, and extending the casual dress program to between May and October.

      To make sure everyone is aware of power usage, Fujitsu will make its electricity usage visible in real time -- there will be nowhere to hide. Perhaps the most interesting move is leveraging a "peak-shift control" function of notebook PCs, automatically switching machines to battery power during peak power usage hours. 

      What lessons can you take from Japan?  Figure out what it would take to cut your average data center power usage by 15 percent.   More importantly, calculate your peak daytime power usage and game out how quickly you could cut that usage in an emergency -- as well as over time, when you have the luxury of money to throw at the problem. 

      Does outsourcing make sense? More virtualization?   While this may sound like a theoretical exercise today, data centers throughout the United States have endured the results of floods and tornados throughout the first half of this year.  Bad weather -- leading to damaged infrastructure -- can happen anywhere, so you need to be prepared.

      Bookmark or Share this article

    Recent Comments


    Reply Permalink
    On 6/10/11 JouleXer said:
    "As IT technology’s importance in the Japanese infrastructure has risen, so, too, has its power consumption. It has become an urgent priority for enterprises to grasp and strategically manage their total energy consumption due to the setting of carbon emission targets required by the Kyoto Protocol and the issuance of the amended Energy Conservation Law resulting from the. In addition, the Japanese government is requiring a 15 percent decrease in power consumption as a measure to combat the domestic electricity shortage this summer caused by the Tohoku-Pacific Ocean Earthquake. There is serious concern that the stoppage of the Hamaoka nuclear power plant and postponement of restarts at other nuclear power plants will cause nation-wide power shortages.

    I fully agree that enterprises like Fujitsu should be commended for taking proactive measures to seek energy efficiency. We are finding organizations can find savings opportunities of much more than 15 percent in their data centers, in some cases 50 percent, without having to raise the thermostat (http://www.joulex.net/Joulex_Press_Releases/bid/53712/JouleX-Releases-Revolutionary-Data-Center-Energy-Management-Solution). There is certainly much to be learned from how Japan is responding to their energy crisis. Thanks for a great article and for enlightening the rest of the world.


    "

    Login to comment.