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Shortage of Electricity Drives Data Center Talks

Posted by Zonk on from the let's-get-cold-fusion-licked dept.

Engineer-Poet writes "Per the San Jose Mercury News, competitors such as Google and Yahoo are meeting to discuss the issue of electricity in Silicon Valley. How much of the USA's 4038 billion kWh/year goes into data centers? Enough to make a difference. Data centers are moving out of California to spread the load and avoid a single-point-of-failure scenario. This is a serious matter; as Andrew Karsner (assistant secretary of energy efficiency and renewable energy for the Department of Energy) asked, 'What happens to national productivity when Google goes down for 72 hours?' I'm sure nobody wants to know." From the article: "Concern about electricity pricing and volatility has led Microsoft to talk with its network manufacturers about building more efficient servers. IBM and Hewlett-Packard -- which both build data centers -- want to improve efficiency at the facilities. AMD promotes changing the design of data centers to increase airflow to keep the supercomputers cool."

9 of 194 comments (clear)

  1. Nothing FP by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    When Google goes down, productivity probably goes up.

    1. Re:Nothing FP by NittanyTuring · · Score: 2, Funny

      When Google goes down for 72 hours, people will switch back to AltaVista for a few days. Alta who?

      I think a lot of people don't know about other search engines anymore.
  2. A Modest Proposal by Giant+Ape+Skeleton · · Score: 4, Funny
    The larger data centers could install "bike farms" -- row upon row of stationary bikes hooked up to huge capacitors.

    Locals and guest workers would be hired to pedal for one-hour shifts each, generating some portion of the needed power and giving a boost to the local economy. Don't think "galley" -- think "self-sustaining"!

    If you'd like to use this idea, please contact me via my Slashdot account. Thanks.

    --
    The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits.
    1. Re:A Modest Proposal by Joebert · · Score: 4, Funny
      Locals and guest workers would be hired to pedal for one-hour shifts each

      Don't be foolish, this is America we're talking about, call it a Gym and charge admission to use thoose bikes.
      --
      Wanna fight ? Bend over, stick your head up your ass, and fight for air.
    2. Re:A Modest Proposal by Bozzio · · Score: 3, Funny

      I have one mod point left, but I can't seem to find the "Insane" option.

      --
      I just pooped your party.
    3. Re:A Modest Proposal by Giant+Ape+Skeleton · · Score: 3, Funny

      You really are desperate if you need to rely on that. Desperate like a fox!
      --
      The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits.
  3. Re:National Productivity by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Don't forget the Britney beaver shot.

  4. Re:Actually by BeardsmoreA · · Score: 3, Funny

    I think we all know where 'analists' are pulling their numbers from though...

  5. Re:Sure they do by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    ensure they can whether any power loss scenario

    I do not think that word means what you think it means.