Software that combats climate change and saves money

Portuguese scientists at the Universities of Minho and Lisbon have developed a piece of software that could reduce global CO₂ emissions from computers by approximately 5 million tonnes, equivalent to 6.5 million transatlantic flights.

The program, called SPIRIT, is the first system that can automatically turn the computers that make up a server on and off depending on whether they are needed or not and it is available for free on the University of Lisbon website.

According to the researchers, at any one time, within the 20 million servers worldwide, 84 per cent of the computers that make them up are idle and not being used.

Computers and particularly computer servers contribute significantly to climate change; they account for one percent of total worldwide CO₂ output, by comparison the aviation industry is responsible for 2 per cent.

The scientists believe their software, recently covered at a software conference, could therefore play a large role in reducing CO₂ emissions and have a significant economic effect by reducing energy costs.

“Used worldwide SPIRIT could result in yearly savings equivalent to the energy produced by a 1000 MW Nuclear Power Station, or, in other words, a reduction of about 5 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions every year,” said Jorge Pacheco and Carlos Reis, the two scientists leading the project.

ICT giants like Microsoft and Google have recognised server farms' ravenous hunger for energy by moving some data centres close to green power supplies; Google's compound in Oregon takes advantage of the hydroelectricity provided by the Columbia River.

But for smaller companies this kind of move is not feasible due to the cost, therefore software like SPIRIT could provide a free way to cut energy outgoings and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The researchers, who have been using SPIRIT in the university servers, claim to have already saved “five tonnes of CO₂  in just one year”.
 

Image: John Seb Barber | flickr