For Green Data Centers, Tech Firms Pick up Where LEED Left off

What do the growth of cloud-based services, online video and an ever-increasing appetite for digital media have in common? They all require power-hungry data centers — and lots of them. It’s a challenge that hasn’t escaped the IT industry; lately Microsoft and Apple have made some notable hires that reflect the critical nature of energy-efficient data center operations. Whether laying the groundwork for Windows Azure or Apple’s rumored content delivery platform, there’s no shortage of companies willing to help lower the energy cost side of the equation, according to a GigaOM Pro report (subscription required) by KDA Consulting’s Katherine Austin released today…