Articles from Federal Computer Week

1. Task Force recommends a metric for measuring data center efficiency

   Explore Article Federal Computer Week (Jul 19 2010) Monitoring , Cloud Computing , Servers

   A task force of industry groups and government agencies released recommendations today to help data center managers measure and report on overall data center efficiency by using four categories of Power Usage Effectiveness. As business demands and energy costs for data centers rise, owners and operators in industry and government have put a premium on the energy efficiency of the data center as a whole, frequently using energy efficiency metrics. However, the metrics are not always applied clearly and consistently. (Read Full Article)
   

   Comment on Article Mentions:   The Green Grid   Uptime Institute   ASHRAE

2. Cooler data centers could save millions for IRS

   Explore Article Federal Computer Week (Jun 7 2010) Monitoring , Servers

   Federal auditors today said the Internal Revenue Service could save more than $3 million over four years by improving air cooling circulation at two data centers. However, IRS officials said that savings estimate may be inflated because it does not take into account the cost of implementing the improvements at the centers in Memphis, Tenn., and Martinsburg, W.Va. Data centers can be more than 40 times as energy intensive as conventional office buildings because of the high power requirements for the computers and the equipment used to cool them. (Read Full Article)
   

   Comment on Article Mentions:   IRS

3. Extreme makeover: Cutting data centers down to size

   Explore Article Federal Computer Week (Feb 18 2010) Cloud Computing

   Knowledge is power, as everyone in government knows. But to get and maintain power, you first need a place to store all that knowledge and then deliver it when and where it’s needed. In government, just as in private industry today, that’s the job of the data center, a facility that houses computer systems and associated components such as telecommunications and storage systems. Data centers include everything from backup power supplies and redundant data communications connections to environmental controls, such as air conditioning and fire suppression, and — not least — high-end security devices. All of that equipment costs money ... (Read Full Article)
   

   Comment on Article Mentions:   LEED   Vivek Kundra   General Services Administration

4. How to decide whether to retrofit or replace your data center

   Explore Article Federal Computer Week (Feb 18 2010) Cloud Computing , Servers

   Experts say deciding whether to remodel an existing data center or build a new facility often comes down to the following questions. Will the current facility support reconfiguration? Not all buildings can be retrofitted to meet new weight, cabling, cooling and energy requirements, said Chris Hardin, president of CDH Consulting, which specializes in data center projects. Engineers should also verify whether other costly risks, such as the disturbance of asbestos, would result from making fundamental changes to the shell of an older building. (Read Full Article)
   

   Comment on Article Mentions:   Hewlett Packard   Gartner

5. Spotlight on Arra: A Stimulus Update

   Explore Article Federal Computer Week (Nov 18 2009)

   As the federal government quickly works to distribute funds via the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, much still remains unclear about how agencies and departments will appropriate funding, while simultaneously achieving transparency and regulatory compliance. Economic stimulus package appropriations total $787.2 billion, with key funding initiatives to support technology, science and research, infrastructure improvements, education, energy, healthcare and training. Spending provisions within ARRA require agencies to have projects under way within 120 days of enactment, dramatically shortening the typical two year business development timeline. (Read Full Article)
   

   Comment on Article Mentions:   IBM   Interactive Data Corporation   General Services Administration

6. US Federal Government: Technology Trends Aid COOP Advancement

   Explore Article Federal Computer Week (Oct 27 2009) Cloud Computing

   Nowadays, it seems nearly every government application is expected to be available continuously without interruption, regardless of circumstances. Avoiding the potential for data loss and downtime through careful continuity of operations planning (COOP) is clearly important. When disaster strikes, crucial operational services and technologies are expected to be available and federal organizations do place a high value on being prepared, because the practical ramifications of failing to do so can be devastating. News reports have followed organizations when they experience an interruption in services or suffer a loss of data. In these situations, constituents can lose confidence in an organization’s ... (Read Full Article)
   

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7. Achieving Federal Data Center Modernization

   Explore Article Federal Computer Week (Oct 16 2009) Construction , Power and Cooling , Emissions

   Government organizations must overcome hefty challenges to meet evolving IT mission goals in 2009 as the impact of the ongoing economic crisis, along with wars overseas and an extensive economic stimulus program are complicating their efforts to modernize, consolidate and transform data center operations. For instance, while a general rule for data center hardware has typically been three to five years between upgrade and/or replacement, in the current economic climate, government IT organizations are extending life cycles and leveraging legacy systems to squeeze more from existing IT assets, particularly servers, storage, and power equipment. Meanwhile, regardless of the state of ... (Read Full Article)
   

   Comment on Article Mentions:   Interactive Data Corporation

8. How green is your data?

   Explore Article Federal Computer Week (Oct 2 2009) Monitoring , Carbon Footprint , Cloud Computing , Servers , Storage

   “The typical interest in green and sustainability is around the data center and energy efficiency, but organizations across the spectrum are beginning to realize there are other dimensions,” said Harsh Sharma, chairman of the Object Management Group’s Sustainability Special Interest Group. “How green is your data? That’s another important dimension.” But with a few exceptions, government entities, like everyone else, appear to be focused on hardware when it comes to green initiatives. A CDW Government report on energy-efficient IT listed the top three energy-saving measures among federal agencies interviewed for the study: migrate to LCD monitors, buy Energy Star-compliant gear ... (Read Full Article)
   

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9. SSA data center to go green

   Explore Article Federal Computer Week (May 20 2009) Emissions , Servers

   The Social Security Administration intends to use green information technology solutions in the new $800 million data center that will replace its existing facility. SSA will use money from the economic stimulus law to help identify and install energy-efficient IT solutions at the new National Support Center, which handles Social Security benefits, according to a plan released May 18 on the Recovery.gov Web site. Green IT solutions are designs, practices and devices that reduce environmental impact and limit energy consumption. The agency will be working with an IT consulting firm to help identify the green requirements, the plan states. “The ... (Read Full Article)
   

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