wRITING ON THE EDGE
I used to always hear the phrase, “April showers bring May flowers.” And, for the most part, it was accurate. You see, when I was a kid growing up in Michigan, we had four defined seasons. Winter, which was the only time it ever snowed, happened between December and mid-March. Then, spring rolled in, bringing warmer temperatures and lots of rain with it. June marked the beginning of summer, where we would often experience 90° to 100°F days — my favorite kind of weather. And, come September, the leaves were turning colors, and we were busting out our fall clothes.
Sure, we haven’t always have such clear lines of demarcation throughout the entire U.S. when it comes to seasons. There are outliers, like Alaska, Hawaii, Arizona, New Mexico, etc. But, the seasons are changing, and it’s not in a good way.
As I mentioned previously, I thrive when it’s excessively hot and humid — the type of weather that most people describe as “disgusting.” August was always my favorite month as a kid and not because it’s my birthday month — because it was the hottest month. That’s why I’ll never forget my 19th birthday. A few of my friends and I had planned a boat day on the lake, but it was cold and rainy, so we cancelled. I remember thinking how strange it was — a fluke. But, it wasn’t a fluke. It was the beginning of a pattern.
I’m turning 38 this year, so that birthday was half my life ago.
Now, cold, rainy weather in August doesn’t surprise me anymore. Neither does a blizzard in May. But, it makes me sad. Of course, I miss the feeling of sticking to the air when I walk outside in the summertime. But, most of all, I miss the changing of the seasons.
I know the numbers vary depending on which source is referenced, but, the general consensus is that data centers alone consume around 2% of global electricity — that may sound like a small number, but it’s not. In fact, it’s huge, putting data centers in the No. 1 spot when it comes to types of facilities that use the most energy.
Data centers aren’t going away any time soon, but our seasons are. That’s why Mission Critical magazine has decided to keep Code Green around permanently, even if our logo only reflected it temporarily. We’re on a mission to share stories of sustainability best practices, but we need your ideas to keep the creativity flowing. Write to me if you haven’t already to let me and the industry know what you’re doing to go green.
Amy Al-Katib
Amy Al-Katib, CDCDP, is editor-in-chief of Mission Critical magazine. She is a member of 7x24 Exchange Intl., ASIS Intl., BICSI, iMasons, the International Society of Philosophical Enquiry, and Mensa. She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Michigan State University and a certificate in STEM/computer science from New York University. She is currently enrolled in the Master's of Science Cybersecurity program at NYU. Reach her at al-katiba@bnpmedia.com.
