Punahou School in Hawaii Turns to Virtualization for Data Center Energy Reduction

##AUTHORSPLIT###- -->

Punahou School, a private K-12 school in Hawaii, is launching a new effort to reduce its overall campus energy consumption by half within the next eight years. As part of the effort, the school is partnering with IBM to overhaul its data center with new servers and virtualization software from VMware.

Punahou School is working with both IBM and IBM partner Commercial Data Systems to replace its legacy servers with IBM System x3850 M2 servers running VMware virtualization software. The move will allow Punahou to consolidate all of its servers onto three System x machines, which will handle everything from accounts payable to student information systems to e-mail to hosting the school's Web site.

"Our effort to reduce energy on campus not only impacts the bottom line, but also sets an environmentally sound example for our students." said Wendi Kamiya,CIO of Punahou School, in a statement released Friday. "We will also be positioned to grow our data in the future while continuing to conserve our energy use."

About the Author

David Nagel is the former editorial director of 1105 Media's Education Group and editor-in-chief of THE Journal, STEAM Universe, and Spaces4Learning. A 30-year publishing veteran, Nagel has led or contributed to dozens of technology, art, marketing, media, and business publications.

He can be reached at [email protected]. You can also connect with him on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidrnagel/ .


Featured

  • AI toolbox containing a wrench, document icon, gears, and a network symbol

    Common Sense Media Releases Free AI Toolkit, AI Readiness & Implementation Guides

    Common Sense Media has developed an AI Toolkit for School Districts, available to educators free of charge, that provides guidelines and resources for implementing AI in education.

  • elementary school building with children outside, overlaid by a glowing data network and transparent graphs

    Toward a Holistic Approach to Data-Informed Decision-Making in Education

    With increasing access to data and powerful analytic tools, the temptation to reduce educational outcomes to mere numbers is strong. However, educational leadership demands a more holistic and thoughtful approach.

  • three silhouetted education technology leaders with thought bubbles containing AI-related icons

    Ed Tech Leaders Rank Generative AI as Top Tech Priority

    In a recent CoSN survey, an overwhelming majority of ed tech leaders (94%) said they see AI as having a positive impact on education. Respondents ranked generative AI as their top tech priority, with 80% reporting their districts have gen AI initiatives underway, or plan to in the current school year.

  • AI-powered individual working calmly on one side and a burnt-out person slumped over a laptop on the other

    AI's Productivity Gains Come at a Cost

    A recent academic study found that as companies adopt AI tools, they're not just streamlining workflows — they're piling on new demands. Researchers determined that "AI technostress" is driving burnout and disrupting personal lives, even as organizations hail productivity gains.