March 2, 2009
By

D.H. Kass

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IBM Corp. (NYSE: IBM) has added a green technology validation program for channel partners whose eco-friendly solutions have shown measurable energy savings and environmental benefits to customers.

 

IBM's “Ready for Energy & Environment” initiative is targeted at those partners that offer products and services proven to supply energy savings and environmental benefits to customers. By submitting their green solution to an IBM review board that includes the vendor’s Corporate Environmental Affairs, partners whose products show a measurable improvement in a customer’s energy consumption can earn an IBM stamp of affirmation and associated marketing benefits.

 

In structuring the program, IBM set the requirements stringent enough so that only 30 partners this year will make it through the two to four week evaluation process, said Chris Wong, IBM vice president, ISVs and developer relations.

 

Green IT Requirements

 

Partners need to demonstrate the merit of their solution—which must operate on IBM hardware and software--at the customer’s site before submitting it to the vendor for consideration, Wong said. To this point, IBM has affixed the “Ready” mark to solutions from four partners. Partners are not charged to enter the program but, if affirmed, may participate in joint marketing activities and are afforded additional funding, sales leads and access to events promoting their energy efficient solutions.

 

“From a partner perspective, IBM is putting a lot of focus on helping customers who are interested in improving the environment,” said Wong. “We are in the middle between customers, partners and their solutions. We wanted to do something that could help our customers find robust, proven solutions to help them reduce their energy footprint and address environmental issues.”

 

To secure the new IBM badge, a solution “must have proven, measurable savings or deliver improvement to energy consumption or the environment,” he said. Wong acknowledged that the selection criteria are somewhat subjective but noted that each solution will be considered individually on its own merits.

 

Server Consolidation

 

APC by Schneider Electric, a provider of power and cooling services, is an early entrant granted IBM’s “Ready” seal for its InfraStruXure data center architecture solution.

APC’s solution works with IBM’s Tivoli software to help customers control their IT infrastructure’s energy consumption and to improve efficiency. “Cooling is the biggest impact to have on the physical side,” said Robert Bunger, APC director of Business Development Enterprise & Systems.

 

APC validated its architecture solution with an installation at Bryant University, a 3,700-student institution in Smithfield, R.I  Initially saddled with 74 servers in three locations, the university consolidated space, eliminated waste and ended up with “a much smaller IT footprint,” said Rich Siedzik, Bryant’s director of computer & telecommunications services.

 

The reduction in power consumption attributed to the architecture changes at its data center will save the university 10 to 15 percent in power usage or $18,000 over a 12-month period, Siedzik said.

TAGS: services, IBM, VARs, Green IT, server consolidation

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