IBM is adding 80,000 square feet of green datacenter space to its existing Boulder Colorado facility. The plan calls for state-of-the-art technology that will help IBM reduce energy expenditures.
The new data center will serve as a proof of concept of IBM’s Project Big Green, which was announced in May. At the time IBM pledged to utilize new energy efficient products and services as part of their plan to reduce data center power consumption. The company redirected $1 billion per year across its businesses, with the goal of increasing the level of energy efficiency in IT. One impressive aspect of the initiative is the deployment of a global “green team” of more than 850 energy efficiency architects from across IBM.
According to the announcement heralding the Boulder data center:
IBM plans to install high density computing systems utilizing virtualization technology, along with its Cool Blue portfolio of energy efficient power and cooling technologies. These technologies, in conjunction with the energy efficient design and construction, will allow IBM to reduce its overall carbon footprint compared to standard data centers, and lessen the impact to the environment.
The State of Colorado and the City of Boulder are both pitching in with financial incentives and the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade is kicking in $632,000 and will work with IBM to establish a training program for the new data center workforce, as well as additional IBM employees.
The new, green data center is scheduled to begin operations in April of 2008.
