With AI demand driving a surge in knowledge centre build-out and {hardware} refreshes, Peter Miller, Gross sales Supervisor at ETB Applied sciences, explores how refurbished expertise may help operators deal with rising carbon footprints, ballooning prices and mounting e-waste.
I’m positive it doesn’t come as a shock once I say AI isn’t going anyplace, not anytime quickly a minimum of. It’s on our screens, in our jobs and our houses – from chatbots and digital assistants to AI-powered fridges and good mirrors. However extra AI means extra processing energy and, inevitably, extra knowledge centres.
Analysis by Barbour ABI discovered that the variety of UK knowledge centres is anticipated to extend by virtually 21% because of the development in AI. Whereas it’s a logical response to growing demand, it has additionally raised issues.
Knowledge centres are energy-hungry services, consuming enormous quantities of energy and water for cooling. Every AI-powered search or picture technology could seem small in isolation. However at scale, they add as much as a severe pressure on nationwide energy grids and a big enhance in carbon emissions – which suggests larger shopper prices. To not point out the manufacturing of latest expertise will be extremely energy-intensive and wasteful, contributing to one of many quickest rising strong waste streams on the earth, e-waste.
For knowledge centre managers, the problem is simply as a lot monetary as it’s environmental. Rising vitality prices make the services dearer to run, all of the whereas regulators and prospects proceed to push for decrease emissions – it’s a catch-22.
However one answer is starting to draw severe consideration: refurbished expertise.
The sustainability case for refurbished
When sourced from a dependable provider, refurbished gear is simply nearly as good as new. Issues about reliability or energy merely don’t arise, however the sustainability case completely does.
All credible suppliers can have carried out in depth high quality checks and testing to make sure the package is working because it ought to. To not point out a lot of it has by no means been used in any respect, normally on account of it being extra stock.
Extending the lifecycle of current {hardware} reduces the necessity for fixed manufacturing of latest parts. That not solely lowers demand for uncooked supplies, it additionally cuts down on e-waste and reduces the carbon footprint that comes with manufacturing and delivery. In reality, analysis from Cranfield College discovered that remanufactured laptops produce solely 6.34% of the CO2 emissions of latest merchandise. That’s greater than 15 instances much less CO2 in comparison with a brand new laptop computer. For knowledge centres attempting to scale, these numbers matter.
By making a easy swap to refurbished expertise, IT managers may considerably decrease the general carbon footprint of their services, with out sacrificing efficiency or resilience.
However can it sustain with AI workloads?
In a world the place knowledge centres have gotten ever extra central to the world’s digital infrastructure; excessive processing speeds, efficiency and reliability are important.
Whereas prior to now, some have questioned refurbished expertise’s capability to maintain up with the calls for of AI workloads. In actuality, refurbished servers, networking gear and storage techniques are extremely efficient – particularly when used strategically throughout hybrid infrastructures.
Balancing the books
However past energy and sustainability, the enterprise case is simply as compelling. The previous few years haven’t been straightforward on companies. Tormented by ongoing uncertainty and rising value pressures, many knowledge centre managers are operating on razor-thin margins.
Organisations have needed to be nimble and fast on their ft to adapt to the spike in development. However with a little bit of strategic thought, there’s no motive doing so has to interrupt the financial institution.
Whereas refurbished expertise isn’t a silver bullet, it’s a sensible manner of upgrading your infrastructure reliably, sustainably and with out the hefty price ticket that comes with new gear. And, by saving on {hardware}, it frees up sources to be reinvested into different areas of the enterprise – similar to renewable vitality integration, superior cooling techniques or AI-driven optimisation instruments.
Refurbished is the highway to extra sustainable operations
Selecting refurbished expertise is greater than a cost-saving tactic – it’s a sensible and rapid step in direction of extra sustainable operations. Whereas it could not clear up all of your issues, it does play a significant position in decreasing environmental impression and assembly buyer expectations for decrease emissions.
As AI adoption accelerates and the variety of knowledge centres continues to develop, our trade faces rising strain to function responsibly. By integrating refurbished choices into your broader sustainability technique, you may cut back waste, optimise sources and display your dedication to each your prospects and the planet – all inside finances.
