Approaching Sustainable Business Gains
Organisations are increasingly shifting workloads to the network edge, with 35% of computing resources in the United States now residing there, according to a report from IDG/Foundry.
The motivation behind this move is to analyse data swiftly by establishing computing, networking, and storage capabilities near the data-generating endpoints, whether they are mobile devices, factory machinery, or AI-enabled vehicles.
However, this transition also demands additional energy resources, potentially straining countries already dealing with an unstable energy supply.
The good news is that the edge can be implemented sustainably and even save energy.
Buildings energy optimised: Enterprises consume vast amounts of energy for lighting, heating, cooling, ventilation, and asset operation. Implementing sensors at the edge and software in network operations centres enables organisations to monitor and control energy consumption across remote sites effectively. This data can be used to further improve energy usage and potentially save up to 60% of data-transport energy consumption. Smart building technology can yield substantial energy savings on HVAC and lighting systems, which are optimally utilised with the edge.
Bandwidth optimisation: Edge computing reduces networking traffic to and from central servers, freeing up bandwidth and reducing energy drains. Edge devices process data locally and only send critical information to the cloud, avoiding unnecessary processing and consequent energy usage.
Utilising existing resources: Edge computing allows companies to leverage underutilised sensors and devices already deployed. By moving data processing back to the edge, organisations reduce their dependence on central clouds and contribute to energy conservation.
Efficiency at its core: Each component of the edge stack is optimised for efficiency and is capable of running offline without an Internet connection, which saves on energy consumption.
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Source: Schneider Electric
