The Associated Press reports that Syracuse University and IBM are teaming up to build a computer center that officials hope will be a model for green computing and green building.
The $12-million structure will have its own natural-gas cogeneration plant, which will produce steam for heat along with electricity. The fuel, natural gas, is cleaner than coal, which is used to generate electricity in most parts of the country. The data center is also expected to use half the energy of a typical data center. That’s important because data centers consume about 1.5 percent of the country’s energy generation — a figure that is expected to double by 2011, the article notes.
IBM will contribute $5-million to the project in the form of equipment and support. The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, which supports innovative energy projects in the state, will contribute $2-million.
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