VMware Unveils Carbon Avoidance Meter to Optimize Data Center Energy Usage

SAN FRANCISCO, May 23, 2019 /3BL Media/-- VMware, Inc. (NYSE:VMW), a leading innovator in enterprise software, has announced the Carbon Avoidance Meter (CAM), to provide data center operators with near-real time “carbon scores” – determined from the level of one’s carbon footprint1 and energy usage – and recommendations for reducing this footprint. The CAM bases carbon scores on telemetry data sent to VMware through VMware Skyline, a proactive support technology, in order to encourage energy reduction and inspire sustainable best practices for the industry.

CAM was announced at RADIO (Research and Development Innovation Offsite), VMware’s annual three-day technical conference bringing together more than 1,800 of the company’s worldwide employees to share innovative ideas and learn about technical strategies and projects happening across VMware’s research and development. VMware's R&D organization developed CAM as a proof of concept through its internal product incubator, xLabs, which aims to take innovative projects through VMware’s product lifecycle and gives VMware employees a platform to bring ideas to life.

Most data centers today consume power from grids sourced with a mix of power generation sources such as coal, nuclear or wind. VMware customers who subscribe to VMware Skyline can use CAM to quantify the level of VM density and, if viable, recommend higher levels of virtualization density to further reduce energy use and carbon emissions. The meter will also enable customers to analyze their power consumption in near-real time and to understand what amount of carbon offset credits should be purchased, or what times of day workloads can be shifted to utilize more sustainable energy sources. With this information, customers can elect to consume power from a more sustainable source, or shift workloads to more sustainable power sources during off-hours.

The product represents another key step toward VMware’s ambitious 2020 sustainability goals and commitment to creating transformative technology to power a better future for the planet. In 2015, the company launched the VMware 2020 goals to reduce carbon emissions through energy efficiency efforts and procurement of renewable energy and carbon offsets, and to bridge the digital divide for businesses and non-profits.2 Beyond these ambitious goals for its own business practices, VMware also aims to incorporate sustainability features into future product releases, including CAM, to offer solutions that help customers positively impact the environment and society, as well as provide customers and partners with data that enable informed choices around cleaner technology.

“An increasing reliance on technologies such as mobile and cloud computing has led to significant energy generation from data centers. To mitigate their impact on the environment, companies need to assess their contributions to climate change and implement products and services that automate and optimize this process, thereby reducing energy outputs,” said Ray O’Farrell, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, VMware. “At VMware, we are committed to empowering our customers with the resources and tools they need to u­ltimately reduce environmental impact across our vast customer and partner ecosystem.”

Additional capabilities and features of CAM will include near-real time dynamic computation of load based on CPU types, load calculation3 of monitored systems and carbon footprint calculation based on consumption for the given geographies of the data centers. The product also aims to help customers create best practices and set standards for data center energy reduction and green computing.

CAM will be available to VMware Skyline customers later this year via the VMware Skyline Advisor, an innovative, proactive support service, developed in-house at VMware. The Skyline services bring high-performing technology and tools to VMware customers, providing proactive, predictive, and prescriptive recommendations that will ultimately help our customers improve overall stability and reliability of data center operations across the VMware portfolio of products and solutions. Adding CAM now allows customers to monitor their “carbon scores” as they proactively optimize their environment.

About VMware 
VMware software powers the world’s complex digital infrastructure. The company’s cloud, networking and security, and digital workspace offerings provide a dynamic and efficient digital foundation to over 500,000 customers globally, aided by an ecosystem of 75,000 partners. Headquartered in Palo Alto, California, VMware is committed to being a force for good, from its breakthrough innovations to its global impact. For more information, please visit https://www.vmware.com/company.html.

VMware, Skyline, and Skyline Advisor are registered trademarks or trademarks of VMware, Inc. or its subsidiaries in the United States and other jurisdictions.

Media Contact
Michael Thacker
VMware Global Communications
650-427-4454
mthacker@vmware.com

1 Carbon footprint is defined as the amount of carbon dioxide and other carbon compounds emitted due to the consumption of fossil fuels by a particular person, group, etc.(Oxford Dictionaries, n.d.)
2 VMware has already committed to powering 100 percent of its global operations with renewable power by 2020. The company achieved carbon neutrality in 2018, two years ahead of its scheduled goal.
3 Load calculation in kWh