about mike
Michael Bourque has been working for Information Technology Services at Boston College for the past 5 years. Mike is responsible for ensuring that BC’s data center uses energy as efficiently as possible. The data center is an important energy consumer by way of housing the complex hardware infrastructure that enables the University’s email, web access and other various computing needs.
improvements in the data center
The Data Center, located in St. Clement’s Hall on Foster Street, is where BC’s electronic information is centrally stored and managed, including Webmail, Agora, and educational databases. Typically, such an area consumes a massive amount of electricity to power and run all of the computers and storage systems. BC, however, is working on turning this stereotype around by making the Center more efficient than ever before.
One of the most vital aspects to the project involves updating hardware that runs all of BC’s computer systems to more energy efficient equipment. Also, through a process called virtualization, computer hardware capacity is optimized so that servers can be shared among different applications, rather than each having its own. This idea can easily be related to the well-known concept of carpooling, in which only one car is needed to transport multiple passengers. With this reduced number of constantly running servers, less electricity is needed not only for powering the devices but also for the air-cooling and humidity control which are required to keep the computers from overheating. This project is energy efficient as well as cost effective because less overall maintenance is required.
The Data Center has also practiced efficient use of technology in its environmental control systems. Because there are hundreds of heat generating computers, lots of energy is required to maintain an ideal temperature balance for the room so that they can function properly. Information Technology Services (ITS) adjusts to seasonal changes in outside temperature and humidity to efficiently maintain the appropriate environment within the Data Center. They have also made sure to properly insulate the building by sealing doors and windows so that the heating and cooling systems are used most efficiently.
Another thing the Data Center has done to reduce its environmental impact is to reduce the total amount of paper that is distributed. They have cut down on paper consumption tremendously over the last few years by ensuring more information is sent and received electronically.
mike and the environment
Although he has always been mindful of wasteful habits, Mike is now more conscious about issues affecting the environment. In addition to reducing the environmental impact of a data center by reducing its energy use, Mike also pays attention to smaller but everyday energy savings such as turning off lights, heating and cooling, etc. Small changes we can make as individuals can add up to significant reductions in energy use when replicated by many.