Sustainable Server Cooling
Sustainability as a concept is currently a theme found across central and local government initiatives and in business plans in multiple sectors. But what does it mean for business, how is it measured and what is its application for Maxi-Cool as an example of a business in the server cooling and IT hardware sector?
Sustainability, as used here, refers to the management and operational strategies that allow the business to meet current functional and customer needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. Sustainable policies for business are widely recognised as a responsible interpretation of the natural conflict between the needs of the present and the needs of the future. In practice, this amounts to the balancing act of meeting the continued requirements of customers and innovating complex business services in a sustainable way.
Incorporating sustainability as an idea and in practice is a major challenge for most businesses and as a process, it is neatly explained by an examination of Triple Bottom Line (TBL) accounting. TBL accounting describes a method of managing the impact and sustainability of a business by measuring its performance in three key areas: planet, people and profit. This method first identifies the existing impacts of a business on the planet, people and profit and from this sustainable performance can be measured and improvements to sustainability goals identified and put in place.
To improve its sustainable impact on the planet, a business would measure its consumption of natural resources. In practical terms, this amounts to an assessment of the use of renewable energy sources, recycling, use of water, the type of energy used in offices and factories and the emissions generated in the production and in delivery. A business might also assess the impact of workers getting to offices and factories and factor these in a well. A green sustainable policy for the future would attempt to reduce or mitigate the business’s use of natural resources while continuing to execute essential functions and offer goods and services.
A sustainable approach to people refers to an assessment of fair wages and working conditions of workers, suppliers and subcontractors within a business. A sustainable people policy would mandate and institute the payment of fair wages and the maintenance of a safe and secure working environment for all workers. This would extend to due diligence on the wages paid and working environments provided by all subcontractors and suppliers.
Profit is calculated by the TBL method as funds that remain for shareholders after sustainable objectives have been achieved. A sustainable approach to profit additionally could include reinvestment rather than automatic shareholder reward. Practical examples for the sustainable use of profits lie inactive reinvestment of profits into efforts to continuously improve sustainability in terms of products, impact on the planet and the people in the business.
Green Rackmount Cooling at MAXI-COOL®
Being a green or sustainable business is one of the founding principles of Maxi-Cool Ltd. We are fully committed to minimising our impact on the environment, supporting our people, our subcontractors and our suppliers and reinvesting in the development of new products that incorporate innovations in energy efficiency. Our micro data centres (MDCs) are low impact precision cooling. All Maxi-Cool products just cool the rack rather than a whole room meaning they are more energy-efficient than standard air conditioning for the same amount of server cooling. We modify our products routinely to upgrade to the latest energy-efficient components. Everything we make is made in the UK minimising freight miles and we actively limit unnecessary delivery journeys. In terms of the office, we limit the use of paper and ink and minimise visits by doing as much as we can electronically. Maxi-Cool rackmount enclosure cooling is server cooling that is fully committed to the needs of the future.
