Example: Computer center optimization with virtualization and new hardware

By replacing old hardware with green IT components and using virtualization software, you can make your server landscape more efficient and lower the total number of servers. Servers with lower power consumption not only directly save energy, they also produce less heat, which indirectly saves costs for cooling systems.

General data of a sample company:

• Company with 900 employees, 3 locations
•  25 dedicated servers, 120 blades in racks
• 10,000 GB storage (SAN/NAS)
• Other infrastructure (network, tape drives, climate control)
  

> Electricity costs 1.2 MWh / year = € 165,000

Step 1: Implementation of server virtualization

• Reduction of the dedicated servers to 19 (- 6)
• Reduction of the blades to 84 (- 36)
• Reduction of the storage volume to 7,500 GB
• Software costs: € 60,000
• Services costs: € 40,000

> Savings in electricity costs: € 47,200 per year

Step 2: Introduction of green IT components

• Reduction of the power consumption of dedicated servers to 350 watts
• Reduction of the power consumption of blade servers to 175 watts
• Hardware costs € 184,200

> Savings in electricity costs: € 35,100 per year

Overview, assuming 5-year usage life

Costs:   
Software                           €   60,000 
Service                              €   40,000 
Green IT components    € 184,200 
Total                                   € 284,200 
   
 Electricity savings:   
 Virtualization                                    €   47,200 per year 
 Green IT components                   €   35,100 per year 
 Total                                                  €   82,300 per year and € 411,500 in 5 years  
    
> After 5 years, the total saving is: € 127,300