In the final quarter of 2010, the IEEE released a new standard aimed at energy efficiency of LAN and WAN networked devices - IEEE 802.3az. The standard is the first of its kind designed to further increase the push towards energy efficient networks.
Meeting the increasing global demand for reduced energy use and costs, the IEEE is meeting the need to reduce idle energy wastage of up to 50% in Ethernet based networks. Complimenting the standard is the Link Layer Discovery Protocol (LLDP) and the Type, Length, Values (TLVs) from other IEEE standards (P802.1AB and 802.3bc respectively), which allows the communication of energy utilisation information between links, at the same time avoiding network disruption.
From an environmental perspective, the IEEE believes once IEEE 802.3az compliant products have been implemented into existing US networks, an energy saving of 5 terrawatt hours (TWh) per year and approximately 5 million tonnes of CO2 can be achieved.
Easing the workload for network managers and administrators, most products complying with the standard will achieve the savings seamlessly.
