Emerson Power has a great infographic detailing the state of the data center, points out Adam Lesser, GigaOM Pro’s Green IT analyst. The over 500,000 data centers worldwide take up almost 300 million square feet of real estate, and an average server today has 45 times more compute capacity than one configured in 2001.
With these dramatic growth rates, it makes one wonder what 2021 will look like, and at what point our insatiable desire for more data, be it video, or search results or CRM databases, will make it even more critical to make data centers sustainable.
Other stories that Adam is reading and thinking about this week include:
- Renewable power trumps fossil fuels for first time: Renewable energy ($187 billion) got more new investment than fossil fuels ($157 billion) for the first time.
- Ford trots out electric focus, promises its hybrids will trump Toyota, GM: Ford is preparing to get into the hybrid and EV game with its all electric Focus and its C-Max Hybrid and C-Max Energi Plug-in Hybrid. The Energi Plug-In will go about 20-30 miles on a charge and can go another 500 miles on the tank of gas. Ford is seeing sales increase in the compact car market.
- Wind, biodiesel subsidies promoted: Concern over expiration of the dollar a gallon subsidy for biofuels is mounting as the industry could get hit, along with the wind power industry.
- Zipcar upping stake in Spanish car-sharing firm: Zipcar’s European expansion began in the U.K., but now it has its eyes on Spain.

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