IBM intros"Mainframe Gas Gauge"

Though data centers and environmentally-friendly initiatives might seem like strange bedfellows on the surface, every day seems to bring more news of major enterprise companies rolling out green-friendly technologies. The latest vendor hoping to prove that you don't need a Nobel Prize to help save the environment is IBM; the company is launching a "Mainframe Gas Gauge," which will allow Big Blue's server customers to monitor their power usage. The Gas Gauge will display data in real time and will also allow admins to view weekly reports on a machine's power consumption. This simple tool could go a long way toward helping enterprises identify which machines are consuming the most power and ultimately, could help more than a few businesses become more green. In addition to the Gas Gauge, IBM is also releasing a "Power Estimator Tool" that will help enterprises expand their data centers in a way that's both environmentally and budget friendly. Finally, the company has announced that it will begin publishing typical energy consumption figures for its z9 mainframe systems, in accordance with a recommendation from the EPA.

For more on IBM's latest green initiatives:
- see this CNN Money article