Dec 12 2008

Proof You Can Stay Lean and Green

Posted by: Jennifer Zerwer

Green efforts are feeling the squeeze these days as budgets continue to get leaner, according to a new report by Reuters. Thankfully, when it comes to energy efficiency, being budget and environmentally friendly aren't mutually exclusive.

Juniper Networks, a provider of high performance networking solutions, is the latest example of how PG&E is partnering with its customers to save money and the environment. As a global company, Juniper conducts vital stages of its product development at labs scattered Engineers test new products and product upgrades at these facilities that typically run around the clock.

As part of the company's commitment to reduce its environmental impact, Juniper is implementing innovative new approaches to how their labs are built and maintained, to better conserve energy, lower power bills and reduce their carbon footprint, all while improving their bottom line. Here are a few things Juniper is doing to reduce their utility costs:

Keeping it Cool
At one large lab at its Sunnyvale headquarters, Juniper recently installed an energy-efficient cooling system to help keep the lab cool all day long, a critical step to ensure the equipment runs effectively. The new lab uses "chillers" - a cold-water loop system which is significantly more energy efficient than air cooling.

The lab also uses "airside economizers." In the Silicon Valley, summer daytime temperatures can soar into the 90s, but year-round nighttime temperatures typically average 50 degrees. So at night, to save even more power, the energy-efficient chillers are turned off and "free" air from outside is drawn in to cool the lab.

Of course, it doesn't hurt that Juniper received a hefty $327,000 rebate from PG&E for installing this energy-sipping equipment that will save the company more than $262,000 in energy costs annually.

Kickin' it up a Notch
To utilize a more efficient power source, Juniper is switching its plugs to a higher voltage. So plugs in Juniper's labs are being upgraded from 120- to 208- and 480-volt circuits for maximum power savings.

Virtual Reality
Juniper is swapping out its six-to-seven year-old servers that used only 20-30 percent of their capacity in favor of new, energy-efficient servers capable of server virtualization. Virtualization allows multiple applications to run concurrently on computing equipment, enabling companies to consolidate their data centers and remove many of their existing servers. Juniper's new servers ensure full utilization, so instead of running eight servers in a lab, they can run one.

PG&E provides rebate incentives for customers who take advantage of this technology through our High Tech Energy Efficiency Program, and we expect to deliver approximately 15-20 megawatts or more of load reduction over 2007-2008.

Remote Access
Another way in which Juniper is saving money and reducing its environmental impact is through the development of remote access labs. Engineers actually work out of their regular cube or office space, but can "start and reset" the equipment that is physically located in the remote lab via their desktop or laptop computer. This approach allows Juniper to build lab facilities in locations where energy and other services are less expensive. These remote labs also include the ability to start up and turn down servers or other equipments remotely, so unused equipment does not eat energy unnecessarily.

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"PG&E" refers to Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation.