care deeply about the environment, certainly more than I care personally about money, so it pains me to say that in most cases, making storage decisions based on power expenditure alone is not rational behavior. The world is driven by economics, and the stark reality is that the cost of power represents a drop in the bucket compared to the amount organizations spend on acquiring and managing their enterprise storage systems. Maybe some day a consumption tax or cap and trade system will tip the balance towards more responsible consumption of non-renewable resources, but in the meantime, the pricing of power (especially in the US) doesn’t give much economic incentive for good behavior. In fact, according to a report Forrester published recently, the amount of money typically spent on electricity to power and cool a TB of storage is only about 1% of the cost of buying that TB of storage (or about 4% of the annualized cost of buying that storage given that you only have to buy the TB once every 3-5 years but you power it every year). So, unfortunately for the environment, power cost itself doesn’t provide a very strong incentive for storage efficiency.
Fortunately though, the things that enterprises can do to reduce their power consumption costs are often the exact same things they can do to reduce the capital and operating expenses of their overall storage environment. Focusing on improving utilization (measured as the quantity of data written divided by the quantity of storage on hand) and increased usage of dense drives are the most straightforward and effective ways to reduce hardware acquisition costs as well as power consumption. There are many ways to achieve these objectives such as thin provisioning, reporting and reclamation to improve utilization and tiering or wide striping to enable more use of dense drives. Whatever the motivation, economic, altruistic or a combination of both, organizations that put significant focus on their utilization and dense drive ratios are likely to spend less money and be greener at the same time. And that’s good for everybody.
Andrew Reichman serves IT Infrastructure & Operations professionals. His focus is on data storage systems, networking, and management software, as well as the business processes required for effective storage management.
Forrester Research, Inc. is an independent research company that provides pragmatic and forward-thinking advice to global leaders in business and technology. Forrester works with professionals in 19 key roles at major companies providing proprietary research, consumer insight, consulting, events, and peer-to-peer executive programs. For more than 25 years, Forrester has been making IT, marketing, and technology industry leaders successful every day. For more information, visit www.forrester.com
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Revealed: climate change impact on US
The White House has released a new report which it hopes will help to galvanise support for climate change legislation in the United States.
The report is the first issued since Barack Obama became President and it contains the strongest language on climate change to come out of the White House.
A lead author of the report, Dr Jerry Melillo, says climate change is fact, not opinion.
"It is clear that climate change is happening now. The observed climate changes we report are not opinions to be debated. They are facts to be dealt with," he said.
The nearly 200-page document is a joint venture between the White House and 13 federal agencies.
It has been released as the US Congress considers legislation that imposes the first national cap on emissions while also seeking to reduce them.
Mr Obama's chief science adviser, John Holdren, says action must be taken.
"Action needs to include both measures to reduce the emissions of heat-trapping pollution that are driving this problem and measures to adapt to the part of climate change we can't avoid," he said.
The report compiles years of scientific research and updates it with new data, painting a bleaker picture of global warming in the United States than has been done before.
It reveals that the average temperature in the US has risen 2 degrees Fahrenheit over the past 50 years, and might rise by up to 11 degrees Fahrenheit by the year 2100.
It warns the number of deaths from heat waves could double in Los Angeles and quadruple in Chicago if emissions are not reduced.
Sea levels are also expected to rise, with the area near New York City one of the worst hit.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Jane Lubchenco says humans are to blame.
"We're also reporting today with greater confidence than ever before that human activities are the main cause of the changes we see underway," she said.
"I really believe this report is a game changer, I think that much of the foot dragging in addressing climate change is a reflection of the perception that climate change is way down the road, it's in the future.
"And this report demonstrates, provides the concrete scientific information, that says unequivocally that climate change is happening now."
Meanwhile the United Nations is warning of what it calls "megadisasters" in the world's biggest cities unless more is done to heed the threat of climate change.
It says tens of millions of people are highly exposed because they live in big cities that would be threatened by rising sea levels or earthquakes.
And a new report from the Red Cross likens forecasting the impact of global warming to rolling a dice saying: "confronted with global warming, we know the dice is loaded".
The report is the first issued since Barack Obama became President and it contains the strongest language on climate change to come out of the White House.
A lead author of the report, Dr Jerry Melillo, says climate change is fact, not opinion.
"It is clear that climate change is happening now. The observed climate changes we report are not opinions to be debated. They are facts to be dealt with," he said.
The nearly 200-page document is a joint venture between the White House and 13 federal agencies.
It has been released as the US Congress considers legislation that imposes the first national cap on emissions while also seeking to reduce them.
Mr Obama's chief science adviser, John Holdren, says action must be taken.
"Action needs to include both measures to reduce the emissions of heat-trapping pollution that are driving this problem and measures to adapt to the part of climate change we can't avoid," he said.
The report compiles years of scientific research and updates it with new data, painting a bleaker picture of global warming in the United States than has been done before.
It reveals that the average temperature in the US has risen 2 degrees Fahrenheit over the past 50 years, and might rise by up to 11 degrees Fahrenheit by the year 2100.
It warns the number of deaths from heat waves could double in Los Angeles and quadruple in Chicago if emissions are not reduced.
Sea levels are also expected to rise, with the area near New York City one of the worst hit.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Jane Lubchenco says humans are to blame.
"We're also reporting today with greater confidence than ever before that human activities are the main cause of the changes we see underway," she said.
"I really believe this report is a game changer, I think that much of the foot dragging in addressing climate change is a reflection of the perception that climate change is way down the road, it's in the future.
"And this report demonstrates, provides the concrete scientific information, that says unequivocally that climate change is happening now."
Meanwhile the United Nations is warning of what it calls "megadisasters" in the world's biggest cities unless more is done to heed the threat of climate change.
It says tens of millions of people are highly exposed because they live in big cities that would be threatened by rising sea levels or earthquakes.
And a new report from the Red Cross likens forecasting the impact of global warming to rolling a dice saying: "confronted with global warming, we know the dice is loaded".
Revealed: climate change impact on US
The White House has released a new report which it hopes will help to galvanise support for climate change legislation in the United States.
The report is the first issued since Barack Obama became President and it contains the strongest language on climate change to come out of the White House.
A lead author of the report, Dr Jerry Melillo, says climate change is fact, not opinion.
"It is clear that climate change is happening now. The observed climate changes we report are not opinions to be debated. They are facts to be dealt with," he said.
The nearly 200-page document is a joint venture between the White House and 13 federal agencies.
It has been released as the US Congress considers legislation that imposes the first national cap on emissions while also seeking to reduce them.
Mr Obama's chief science adviser, John Holdren, says action must be taken.
"Action needs to include both measures to reduce the emissions of heat-trapping pollution that are driving this problem and measures to adapt to the part of climate change we can't avoid," he said.
The report compiles years of scientific research and updates it with new data, painting a bleaker picture of global warming in the United States than has been done before.
It reveals that the average temperature in the US has risen 2 degrees Fahrenheit over the past 50 years, and might rise by up to 11 degrees Fahrenheit by the year 2100.
It warns the number of deaths from heat waves could double in Los Angeles and quadruple in Chicago if emissions are not reduced.
Sea levels are also expected to rise, with the area near New York City one of the worst hit.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Jane Lubchenco says humans are to blame.
"We're also reporting today with greater confidence than ever before that human activities are the main cause of the changes we see underway," she said.
"I really believe this report is a game changer, I think that much of the foot dragging in addressing climate change is a reflection of the perception that climate change is way down the road, it's in the future.
"And this report demonstrates, provides the concrete scientific information, that says unequivocally that climate change is happening now."
Meanwhile the United Nations is warning of what it calls "megadisasters" in the world's biggest cities unless more is done to heed the threat of climate change.
It says tens of millions of people are highly exposed because they live in big cities that would be threatened by rising sea levels or earthquakes.
And a new report from the Red Cross likens forecasting the impact of global warming to rolling a dice saying: "confronted with global warming, we know the dice is loaded".
The report is the first issued since Barack Obama became President and it contains the strongest language on climate change to come out of the White House.
A lead author of the report, Dr Jerry Melillo, says climate change is fact, not opinion.
"It is clear that climate change is happening now. The observed climate changes we report are not opinions to be debated. They are facts to be dealt with," he said.
The nearly 200-page document is a joint venture between the White House and 13 federal agencies.
It has been released as the US Congress considers legislation that imposes the first national cap on emissions while also seeking to reduce them.
Mr Obama's chief science adviser, John Holdren, says action must be taken.
"Action needs to include both measures to reduce the emissions of heat-trapping pollution that are driving this problem and measures to adapt to the part of climate change we can't avoid," he said.
The report compiles years of scientific research and updates it with new data, painting a bleaker picture of global warming in the United States than has been done before.
It reveals that the average temperature in the US has risen 2 degrees Fahrenheit over the past 50 years, and might rise by up to 11 degrees Fahrenheit by the year 2100.
It warns the number of deaths from heat waves could double in Los Angeles and quadruple in Chicago if emissions are not reduced.
Sea levels are also expected to rise, with the area near New York City one of the worst hit.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Jane Lubchenco says humans are to blame.
"We're also reporting today with greater confidence than ever before that human activities are the main cause of the changes we see underway," she said.
"I really believe this report is a game changer, I think that much of the foot dragging in addressing climate change is a reflection of the perception that climate change is way down the road, it's in the future.
"And this report demonstrates, provides the concrete scientific information, that says unequivocally that climate change is happening now."
Meanwhile the United Nations is warning of what it calls "megadisasters" in the world's biggest cities unless more is done to heed the threat of climate change.
It says tens of millions of people are highly exposed because they live in big cities that would be threatened by rising sea levels or earthquakes.
And a new report from the Red Cross likens forecasting the impact of global warming to rolling a dice saying: "confronted with global warming, we know the dice is loaded".
Gindalbie job losses blamed on ‘green tape’
Gindalbie Metals has blamed delays in receiving environmental approval for the $1.8 billion Karara iron ore project in the Mid-West for its decision to axe one in five jobs.
The 21 per cent cut to Gindalbie’s workforce, which will make 24 out of 113 positions redundant, includes Andrew Munkton’s position as operations general manager.
Gindalbie, which also blamed the global financial crisis for the cost-cutting measure, said it would cancel activities such as regional exploration to focus solely on Karara.
In addition to the exploration team, other jobs to face the cut relate to Karara’s start-up, which is facing delays because of troubles to obtain all the necessary regulatory approvals.
Only two key approvals remain outstanding — environmental goahead from the WA Government and Chinese sign-off for AnSteel to inject $162 million into Gindalbie.
Chinese approval is expected any time.
But doubts remain over the timing of the environmental approval, given that Gindalbie appealed against part of the Environmental Protection Authority’s recommendation to conditionally allow Karara’s development. Gindalbie expects to have to wait at least another three months before receiving final government go-ahead.
Only two years ago Gindalbie had targeted first magnetite production from Karara by next year. The target date has since been pushed back to the first half of 2011, if Gindalbie is able to start construction by the December quarter this year.
“We are not cutting staff because the project has stopped,” a Gindalbie spokesman said yesterday.
“It’s going ahead but it has been delayed and we are cutting back on regional exploration.”
Gindalbie is not the only Mid-West iron ore hopeful struggling to deal with the lengthy regulatory process.
The Chinese-owned Sinosteel Midwest is appealing against an adverse EPA recommendation regarding development of its Koolanooka-Blue Hills hematite project.
The two-week appeals period closed last night and a Sinosteel spokesman said it was encouraged by the show of support its had received from a cross-section of the Mid-West community keen to see the iron ore project developed.
As well as much-needed jobs in the region, Gindalbie and Sinosteel are being relied on to provide iron ore to underpin the development of the public-private $1.5 billion Oakajee port project, north of Geraldton.
The 21 per cent cut to Gindalbie’s workforce, which will make 24 out of 113 positions redundant, includes Andrew Munkton’s position as operations general manager.
Gindalbie, which also blamed the global financial crisis for the cost-cutting measure, said it would cancel activities such as regional exploration to focus solely on Karara.
In addition to the exploration team, other jobs to face the cut relate to Karara’s start-up, which is facing delays because of troubles to obtain all the necessary regulatory approvals.
Only two key approvals remain outstanding — environmental goahead from the WA Government and Chinese sign-off for AnSteel to inject $162 million into Gindalbie.
Chinese approval is expected any time.
But doubts remain over the timing of the environmental approval, given that Gindalbie appealed against part of the Environmental Protection Authority’s recommendation to conditionally allow Karara’s development. Gindalbie expects to have to wait at least another three months before receiving final government go-ahead.
Only two years ago Gindalbie had targeted first magnetite production from Karara by next year. The target date has since been pushed back to the first half of 2011, if Gindalbie is able to start construction by the December quarter this year.
“We are not cutting staff because the project has stopped,” a Gindalbie spokesman said yesterday.
“It’s going ahead but it has been delayed and we are cutting back on regional exploration.”
Gindalbie is not the only Mid-West iron ore hopeful struggling to deal with the lengthy regulatory process.
The Chinese-owned Sinosteel Midwest is appealing against an adverse EPA recommendation regarding development of its Koolanooka-Blue Hills hematite project.
The two-week appeals period closed last night and a Sinosteel spokesman said it was encouraged by the show of support its had received from a cross-section of the Mid-West community keen to see the iron ore project developed.
As well as much-needed jobs in the region, Gindalbie and Sinosteel are being relied on to provide iron ore to underpin the development of the public-private $1.5 billion Oakajee port project, north of Geraldton.
World Environment Day observed in Mymensingh
The World Environment Day was observed in Mymensingh in a befitting manner on June 5.
To observe the day a procession was brought in the town from the office of Deputy Commissioner and dispersed at the town hall after parading the main streets of the town.
District administration with the help of World Vision,, ADP and other government offices and NGOs arranged the procession.
An a forestation programme was held on the occasion on the Muktijodha Smriti Saudha.
In the afternoon a discussion meeting was held at DC's conference room in which Deputy Commissioner of Mymensingh A.N.Shamsuddin Azad Chowdhury presided over.
The speakers expressing concern over the degradation of environment of the country said if the ecological system is destroyed, the environment system will be destroyed. So, the water bodies of the countries, including the rivers, should be protected and they stressed for launching a social movement to this effect.
To observe the day a procession was brought in the town from the office of Deputy Commissioner and dispersed at the town hall after parading the main streets of the town.
District administration with the help of World Vision,, ADP and other government offices and NGOs arranged the procession.
An a forestation programme was held on the occasion on the Muktijodha Smriti Saudha.
In the afternoon a discussion meeting was held at DC's conference room in which Deputy Commissioner of Mymensingh A.N.Shamsuddin Azad Chowdhury presided over.
The speakers expressing concern over the degradation of environment of the country said if the ecological system is destroyed, the environment system will be destroyed. So, the water bodies of the countries, including the rivers, should be protected and they stressed for launching a social movement to this effect.
Environment ministry to eject double agents
A number of people serving on regulatory boards of the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) will soon be sacked. The ministry has discovered they are also directors of companies whose projects the boards they are serving on have appraised.
“These are clear cases of conflict of interest,” Jairam Ramesh, environment minister, told Hindustan Times. “It was the duty of these people to keep the government informed.”
The most striking case is that of former power secretary P. Abraham, who has been heading the MoEF’s expert appraisal committee (EAC) on river valley and hydropower projects for the past two years. Every hydel project needs this EAC’s clearance before it can start.
According to a complaint sent to the ministry by six NGOs last week, Abraham is also on the board of at least six power companies, including Lanco Infratech, Maharashtra Power Generation Company, GVK Industries Ltd and JSW Energy Ltd.
“There have been at least six occasions when a project of companies where Abraham is a director came for clearance before the committee he chairs,” said Neeraj Vagholikar of Pune-based Kalpvriksh Environmental Action Group on telephone.
Abraham reportedly stayed away from meetings at which projects of companies he was connected with were discussed. “But that is not enough,” said Ramesh. “I agree totally with the anti-dam activists and have initiated action.”
Despite repeated efforts by Hindustan Times, Abraham could not be contacted. “I’ve also been trying to contact him for the last two days,” said Ramesh.
MoEF sources claimed other EACs, notably the one on mining and another on coal-based power plants, also have members associated with private interests.
The National Biodiversity Authority has members who formerly worked for private companies like Syngenta, which has applied for patents from this very authority. They, however, refused to reveal names.
“These are clear cases of conflict of interest,” Jairam Ramesh, environment minister, told Hindustan Times. “It was the duty of these people to keep the government informed.”
The most striking case is that of former power secretary P. Abraham, who has been heading the MoEF’s expert appraisal committee (EAC) on river valley and hydropower projects for the past two years. Every hydel project needs this EAC’s clearance before it can start.
According to a complaint sent to the ministry by six NGOs last week, Abraham is also on the board of at least six power companies, including Lanco Infratech, Maharashtra Power Generation Company, GVK Industries Ltd and JSW Energy Ltd.
“There have been at least six occasions when a project of companies where Abraham is a director came for clearance before the committee he chairs,” said Neeraj Vagholikar of Pune-based Kalpvriksh Environmental Action Group on telephone.
Abraham reportedly stayed away from meetings at which projects of companies he was connected with were discussed. “But that is not enough,” said Ramesh. “I agree totally with the anti-dam activists and have initiated action.”
Despite repeated efforts by Hindustan Times, Abraham could not be contacted. “I’ve also been trying to contact him for the last two days,” said Ramesh.
MoEF sources claimed other EACs, notably the one on mining and another on coal-based power plants, also have members associated with private interests.
The National Biodiversity Authority has members who formerly worked for private companies like Syngenta, which has applied for patents from this very authority. They, however, refused to reveal names.
ADB's Regional Climate Change Initiatives
Mitigation-related Initiatives
Carbon Market Initiative - strengthening the carbon market by providing additional financial resources for project development, as well as technical and marketing support, for projects potentially eligible for the Clean Development Mechanism.
Cities Development Initiative for Asia* - providing advisory and capacity-building support on climate-friendly city development.
Clean Air Initiative for Asian Cities* - promoting a reduction in vehicle emissions through improved fuel quality, vehicle maintenance, emission control technology, alternative fuels, and better traffic management. This is a regional network jointly launched by ADB and the World Bank in 2001 and is now an independent organization based in Manila.
Energy for All Initiative - promoting expanded access by the poor to modern and clean forms of energy.
Energy Efficiency Initiative - providing innovative financing mechanisms for clean energy investments with the aim to invest $1billion per year on clean energy development programs from 2008 to 2010.
Sustainable Transport Initiative - providing advice and financing for innovative public transport schemes that will cut greenhouse gas emissions and local pollutants.
Top
Adaptation-related Initiatives
Addressing Climate Change in the Asia and Pacific Region - This project is gathering knowledge and producing a series of publications covering key climate change challenges facing Asia and the Pacific such as energy and climate change, adaptation in the agriculture sector, and migration and climate migrants.
Central Asia Countries Initiative for Land Management - restoring, maintaining, and enhancing the productive functions of land in Central Asia.
Climate Change Adaptation Program for the Pacific - examined the special risks faced and adaptation approaches and measures needed in low-lying island states, and ADB is following up on implementing strategies identified.
Promoting Climate Change Adaptation in Asia and the Pacific - promoting an improved understanding by participating governments of the necessary actions they must take to adapt to climate change through the adoption of investment programs, plans, and policies.
Regional Partnerships for Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Preparedness - will seek to increase the financial resilience of participating Pacific Island countries to the effects of natural disasters.
Regional Review of the Economics of Climate Change in Southeast Asia - analysis will examine climate change adaptation (as well as Clean Energy) costs and options facing the largest economics of Southeast Asia.
Water for All - this vision and policy is supported by ADB's Water Financing Program, which is working to increase investments and support reforms, capacity development, and regional cooperation in the water sector.
Carbon Market Initiative - strengthening the carbon market by providing additional financial resources for project development, as well as technical and marketing support, for projects potentially eligible for the Clean Development Mechanism.
Cities Development Initiative for Asia* - providing advisory and capacity-building support on climate-friendly city development.
Clean Air Initiative for Asian Cities* - promoting a reduction in vehicle emissions through improved fuel quality, vehicle maintenance, emission control technology, alternative fuels, and better traffic management. This is a regional network jointly launched by ADB and the World Bank in 2001 and is now an independent organization based in Manila.
Energy for All Initiative - promoting expanded access by the poor to modern and clean forms of energy.
Energy Efficiency Initiative - providing innovative financing mechanisms for clean energy investments with the aim to invest $1billion per year on clean energy development programs from 2008 to 2010.
Sustainable Transport Initiative - providing advice and financing for innovative public transport schemes that will cut greenhouse gas emissions and local pollutants.
Top
Adaptation-related Initiatives
Addressing Climate Change in the Asia and Pacific Region - This project is gathering knowledge and producing a series of publications covering key climate change challenges facing Asia and the Pacific such as energy and climate change, adaptation in the agriculture sector, and migration and climate migrants.
Central Asia Countries Initiative for Land Management - restoring, maintaining, and enhancing the productive functions of land in Central Asia.
Climate Change Adaptation Program for the Pacific - examined the special risks faced and adaptation approaches and measures needed in low-lying island states, and ADB is following up on implementing strategies identified.
Promoting Climate Change Adaptation in Asia and the Pacific - promoting an improved understanding by participating governments of the necessary actions they must take to adapt to climate change through the adoption of investment programs, plans, and policies.
Regional Partnerships for Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Preparedness - will seek to increase the financial resilience of participating Pacific Island countries to the effects of natural disasters.
Regional Review of the Economics of Climate Change in Southeast Asia - analysis will examine climate change adaptation (as well as Clean Energy) costs and options facing the largest economics of Southeast Asia.
Water for All - this vision and policy is supported by ADB's Water Financing Program, which is working to increase investments and support reforms, capacity development, and regional cooperation in the water sector.
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