HP is the first server vendor to earn an Energy Star Seal. A few weeks back, the EPA launched a program that would allow servers to slap an Energy Star logo on their servers, giving vendors some new bragging rights.
The EPA said the program would allow current models to meet the specs, because it designed the spec based on current technology, not something out in the future.
Well, HP is the first to earn Energy Star for Enterprise Servers. As of June 1, the ProLiant DL360 G6 1U model and three configurations of the DL360 G6 2U model get the star. No doubt Dell and IBM are working feverishly for their stars as well.
The EPA introduced the Energy Star program in 1992 as a voluntary program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency. It’s now found on monitors, computers, TVs, DVD players, on up to whole buildings.
The EPA has published the server program specs (found here in PDF format). They cover servers with up to four processors and set power draw levels from idle to full load. Only rack-mounted servers are covered, as it’s rather difficult to make a direct comparison to blade servers, since their power configuration is very different from a rack mounted system.
Kenneth Brill, executive director of the Uptime Institute, penned an interesting column for Forbes, where he noted that all it takes is a 50 watt savings in power to yield big dollar savings, because in firms with large server farms, that 50 watts adds up quick.
