24 Feb 2010

Businesses 'embracing PUE'

Power usage effectiveness (PUE) is fast becoming an industry standard for measuring energy efficiency, it has been claimed.

Harkeeret Singh, vice-chair of the Europe, Middle East and Africa technical group for The Green Grid and head of energy optimisation at Thomson Reuters, said PUE provides an indication of the power use of data centres and is being embraced by businesses across the UK as they look to become more energy efficient.

He commented: "Would there have been a global head of sustainable technology six years ago in a major company? There's been a shift. Companies are recognising that."

Mr Singh noted PUE is useful for showing where best a company can invest in power savings in their IT infrastructure.

According to MakeITBetter.org.uk, the government plans to consolidate its data centres into a small number of highly efficient ones.

Costs savings are expected to total £300 million per annum, while through consolidation they expect a 75 per cent reduction in power and cooling requirements.