Reduce Your Carbon Footprint Through Smarter Server Design

The Open Compute Project (OCP) has transformed server designs to improve efficiency, serviceability and sustainability. By focusing on simplicity and modularity, OCP servers significantly reduce the carbon impact of IT hardware.

Why OCP Servers Are More Carbon-Efficient

OCP servers outperform traditional servers in several ways:

  • Fewer Materials: Traditional servers often have multiple small cooling fans, which require rare earth materials. OCP uses fewer, larger fans, reducing material usage and embodied emissions.
  • Efficient Motherboards: OCP motherboards cut embodied emissions 56% by using simpler designs and fewer materials.
  • Compact Designs: More servers fit in the same rack, reducing cooling needs and maximizing performance per unit.

Overall, these changes reduce embodied emissions by 30–40% and cut water use and transport emissions.

Extending the Life of IT Assets

Rack Renew supports sustainability by giving IT hardware a second life:

  • Reuse Entire Racks: Reconfiguring and redeploying racks can save up to 60,000 kg of CO₂ per rack.
  • Harvest Components: Key parts like memory, CPUs and others are salvaged and reused.
  • Resell to Smaller Data Centers: Fully reconfigured racks are sold to smaller-scale data centers, offering affordable and eco-friendly options.

This approach maximizes the use of IT assets, reduces e-waste, and avoids emissions from new manufacturing.

Operational Efficiency and Collaboration

Working with Techbuyer, Rack Renew measures server performance and energy use, comparing OCP and traditional designs during its operation. Key areas of focus include:

  • Energy Use: Assessing power and cooling demands, which affect overall emissions in large-scale data centers.
  • Standardized Testing: Using and adapting tools like the Server Efficiency Rating Tool (SERT) to get a like for like comparison of operational efficiency across different server designs.

These insights help optimize future server designs and highlight the benefits of OCP servers.

What Is Comparative Lifetime Carbon Efficiency (CLCE)?

CLCE evaluates the environmental impact of technology across its entire lifecycle, from manufacturing and use to recycling. This data-driven approach helps organizations make better choices to minimize environmental impact while maintaining performance.

Join Us in Driving Sustainability

At Rack Renew, we believe collaboration is key to advancing sustainability in IT. By partnering with us you can:

  • Measure the carbon footprint of your IT assets.
  • Extend the lifecycle of your hardware.
  • Support the development of sustainable server designs.

Together, we can reduce the IT industry’s carbon footprint. Contact Rack Renew to start your journey toward sustainability.