Paper Type
Completed Research Paper
Abstract
Data centers (DC/DCs) are indispensable elements of information systems. The increase in information technology service demand drives their worldwide grow in number, size and energy consumption. In the light of depleting raw natural resources and climate change induced by greenhouse gases (GHG) the environmental impacts of DCs have received particular attention. This paper reviews literature to highlight major issues that contribute to DCs ecologic sustainability, and explores the state of the art of green performance indicators (GPIs) to assess DCs environmental performance, in particular the energy, GHG and resource efficiency. Afterwards, the identified GPIs are classified and clustered to construct a green performance measurement system. Furthermore, the paper generates insights in relation to the recognition and application of proposed GPIs in practice through 13 questionnaires and two expert interviews. Thus, the paper provides academics and practitioners with the body of knowledge on DC green performance measurement, and moreover formulates open research challenges.
Recommended Citation
Schödwell, Björn; Erek, Koray; and Zarnekow, Rüdiger, "Data Center Green Performance Measurement: State of the Art and Open Research Challenges" (2013). AMCIS 2013 Proceedings. 10.
https://aisel.aisnet.org/amcis2013/GreenIS/GeneralPresentations/10
Data Center Green Performance Measurement: State of the Art and Open Research Challenges
Data centers (DC/DCs) are indispensable elements of information systems. The increase in information technology service demand drives their worldwide grow in number, size and energy consumption. In the light of depleting raw natural resources and climate change induced by greenhouse gases (GHG) the environmental impacts of DCs have received particular attention. This paper reviews literature to highlight major issues that contribute to DCs ecologic sustainability, and explores the state of the art of green performance indicators (GPIs) to assess DCs environmental performance, in particular the energy, GHG and resource efficiency. Afterwards, the identified GPIs are classified and clustered to construct a green performance measurement system. Furthermore, the paper generates insights in relation to the recognition and application of proposed GPIs in practice through 13 questionnaires and two expert interviews. Thus, the paper provides academics and practitioners with the body of knowledge on DC green performance measurement, and moreover formulates open research challenges.