Now that Green IT has become not just a talking point but an ROI-based corporate goal, big-name consulting firms are getting into the act. Recently Gartner spent a good deal of time at its European conference focusing on green data centers.

Gartner says that today's and tomorrow's data centers are bigger energy consumers than they were in the past, and that they're filled with high-density, power-hungry equipment. Gartner warns: " If they are not fully aware of the problem, data centre managers run the risk of doubling their energy costs between 2005 and 2011.  If we assume that data centre energy costs continue to double every five years, they will have increased 1,600 per cent between 2005 and 2025."

Gartner recommends a holistic, six-stage approach to building a green data center. Here, from one of Gartner's releases, are their word-for-word recommendations:

1. Pick the location according to a strategic facility strategy.  High-bay, warehouse-type buildings provide more efficient rack layout and airflow.

2. Develop the site on a modular basis.

3. Include chillers and high-ventilation air conditioning units (HVACS).  Build all new large facilities with chilled fluid plumbing at the outset.

4. Introduce some recycling and alternative energy sources.

5. Put in monitoring tools.

6. Manage the server efficiencies.  Move away from the 'always on' mentality and look at powering equipment down.

By the way, Gartner isn't alone in focusing on Green IT. As GreenerComputing wrote last week, IDC has launched a Green IT initiative as well.