Saving electricity one data center at a time

Hundreds of millions of users access our services through the web, and this traffic requires lots of computers. We strive to offer great Internet services while taking our energy use very seriously. That's why, nearly a decade ago, we started work to optimize the energy efficiency of our servers and later set out to build the most environmentally sustainable data centers possible. We now believe that Google-designed data centers are the most efficient in the world.<br /><br />The graph below shows what we've achieved: our data centers use considerably less energy for the servers themselves, and much less energy for cooling, than a typical data center. We achieved this milestone by significantly reducing the amount of energy needed for the data center facility overhead. Specifically, Google-designed data centers use nearly five times less energy than conventional facilities to feed and cool the computers inside. Our engineers worked hard to optimize every element in the data center, from the chip to the cooling tower.<br /><br />As a result, the energy used per Google search is minimal. In the time it takes to do a Google search, your own personal computer will use more energy than we will use to answer your query. To learn more about our 5-step approach to efficiency, please check out our new <a href="http://www.google.com/corporate/datacenters/">website</a> about efficient data centers.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzkQ-MqmBdYtRkjX2vN4yrzAXuJdDyBjm4OIjLbzwEqS1_ogyC8Zig3ZSh6XCKnFXzx41UKNEiUbIUyF5sdDnfR_Nxg3pUgKmjphSfnA5AOPzO6XyrCU4mzDRRKGooW9xycBUvOXsJ3Wkx/s1600-h/DC+Efficiency+Graph.gif" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252182793232210402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzkQ-MqmBdYtRkjX2vN4yrzAXuJdDyBjm4OIjLbzwEqS1_ogyC8Zig3ZSh6XCKnFXzx41UKNEiUbIUyF5sdDnfR_Nxg3pUgKmjphSfnA5AOPzO6XyrCU4mzDRRKGooW9xycBUvOXsJ3Wkx/s320/DC+Efficiency+Graph.gif" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><span class="byline-author">Posted by Urs Hölzle, Senior Vice President, Operations</span>

Saving electricity one data center at a time

Hundreds of millions of users access our services through the web, and this traffic requires lots of computers. We strive to offer great Int...

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2001: A search odyssey

Now that we're a decade old, we figured we're long overdue for some spring cleaning. We started digging around our basement and found all kinds of junk: old <a href="http://www.google.com/tenthbirthday/#1999-fish-food" id="u745" title="fish food">Swedish fish</a>, <a href="http://www.google.com/tenthbirthday/#2002-birdbrains" id="de4:" title="pigeon poop">pigeon poop</a>, <a href="http://www.google.com/tenthbirthday/#2002-tlhingan-majqa" id="l3o9" title="Klingon">Klingon</a> translation books. Amazingly enough, hidden in a corner beneath Larry's and Sergey's original lab coats, we found a vintage search index in mint condition. We dusted it off and took it for a spin, gobsmacked to see how different the web was in early 2001. "<a href="http://www.google.com/search2001/search?q=ipod" id="crn5" title="ipod">iPod</a>" did not refer to a music player, "<a href="http://www.google.com/search2001/search?q=youtube" id="k5_z" title="youtube">youtube</a>" was nonsense, and if you were looking for "<a href="http://www.google.com/search2001/search?q=Michael+Phelps" id="qi2j" title="Michael Phelps">Michael Phelps</a>," chances are you meant the scientist, not the swimmer. "<a href="http://www.google.com/search2001/search?q=Wikipedia" id="ijwy" title="Wikipedia">Wikipedia</a>" was brand new. Remember "<a href="http://www.google.com/search2001/search?q=hanging+chads" id="gva0" title="hanging chads">hanging chads</a>"? (And speaking of that election-specific reference -- if you're a U.S. citizen, it's not too late: please <a href="http://www.rockthevote.org/" id="jnhb" title="register to vote">register to vote</a>.)<br /><br />We had so much fun searching that we wanted to put this old index online for everyone to play with. We thought it'd be even cooler if we could actually see the full versions of the old web pages, so we worked with the <a href="http://www.archive.org/" id="tel9" title="Internet Archive">Internet Archive</a> to link to their cache of these pages from 2001. Step into the time machine and try a <a href="http://www.google.com/search2001.html" id="lf-3" title="2001 Google search">2001 Google search</a>.<br /><br />For more information on this search, please read our <a href="http://www.google.com/search2001faq.html" id="e9_x" title="FAQ">FAQ</a>.<br /><br /><font class="byline-author">Posted by Shirin Oskooi, Product Manager</font>

2001: A search odyssey

Now that we're a decade old, we figured we're long overdue for some spring cleaning. We started digging around our basement and foun...

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Your YouTube video: Hot or Not?

<a href="http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2008/03/insight-into-youtube-videos.html">YouTube Insight</a> has helped millions of you learn more about your YouTube videos and figure out when, where, and why your videos are popular. But what if you could learn not just which of your videos are hot on the site, but which specific parts of those videos are hotter than others? What if you could know exactly when viewers tend to leave your videos, or which scenes within a video they watch again and again?<br /><br />This information is now available to all YouTube video uploaders with an innovative new feature for Insight called "Hot Spots." The Hot Spots tab in Insight plays your video alongside a graph that shows the ups-and-downs of viewership at different moments within the video. We determine "hot" and "cold" spots by comparing your video's abandonment rate at that moment to other videos on YouTube of the same length, and incorporating data about rewinds and fast-forwards. So what does that mean? Well, when the graph goes up, your video is hot: few viewers are leaving, and many are even rewinding on the control bar to see that sequence again. When the graph goes down, your content's gone cold: many viewers are moving to another part of the video or leaving the video entirely.<br /><br />Here's an example of Hot Spots in action:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZaC_sniDEfe3gqrrVeGTJG65OJ12FBomHBNta_d0uQR7jZ9mhxprXM4KxhL3XEkJtrpuitprhZrS9G60BbOgWncYwgmRfJhe-Aa16PCFUTtoqChGJvUNCqTOTCIviPD8j4OSpXq_EXC5i/s1600-h/Hot+Spots+screenshot+2.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251872006263705970" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZaC_sniDEfe3gqrrVeGTJG65OJ12FBomHBNta_d0uQR7jZ9mhxprXM4KxhL3XEkJtrpuitprhZrS9G60BbOgWncYwgmRfJhe-Aa16PCFUTtoqChGJvUNCqTOTCIviPD8j4OSpXq_EXC5i/s400/Hot+Spots+screenshot+2.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />You can see that many viewers are not impressed with the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgIeHNla80s">dance moves</a> of Michael Rucker, Associate Product Marketing Manager at YouTube; they're leaving the video at a faster than average rate almost immediately after the video begins. But the longer the video goes on, the more people tend to stay, generating a hot spot at the end of the video. Better late than never -- kudos, Rucker!<br /><br />We think you'll find Hot Spots useful in several ways. For example, users can figure out which scenes in their videos are the "hottest" and edit those videos, or include well-timed annotations, to keep their audience more engaged. Partners might similarly create better content -- like more exciting promotional trailers -- for use on and off YouTube, and advertisers and agencies can study the effectiveness of their creative, to make sure they keep viewers' attention throughout an ad. Now that Insight shows what parts of videos viewers are watching and skipping, creators no longer have to play guessing games. YouTube, the world's largest focus group, provides them with answers. You can find this new feature under the "Hot Spots" tab within the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/my_videos_insight">Insight Dashboard</a>.<br /><br />As with all of Insight's features, we learn about <a href="http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticleHomePage&art_aid=87725">the most creative examples</a> from you. We can't wait to see what you come up with next.<br /><br /><span class="byline-author">Posted by Tracy Chan and Nick Jakobi, Product Managers, YouTube Team</span>

Your YouTube video: Hot or Not?

YouTube Insight has helped millions of you learn more about your YouTube videos and figure out when, where, and why your videos are popular...

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The ONE News YouTube Election Debate in New Zealand

Over the course of the long U.S. Presidential election campaign, millions of people have checked out the candidates' YouTube Channels on our <a href="http://www.youtube.com/youchoose">You Choose '08</a> platform, and communicated directly with all those running for President. Thousands more submitted questions for candidates in the CNN/YouTube debates, participated in our <a href="http://www.youtube.com/youchoose08">You Choose '08 Spotlight</a>, or made videos for the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/2008conventions">Democratic and Republican conventions</a>. Outside the U.S., YouTube has also become an important part of leveling the political playing field. A couple of weeks ago, for instance, the 2008 New Zealand general elections were called, with Kiwis going to the polls in early November.<br /><br />Now, we're thrilled to announce the <a href="http://nz.youtube.com/">ONE News YouTube Election Debate</a> between Helen Clark and John Key, a history-making initiative with New Zealand's public broadcaster, TVNZ. This marks the first time the head of a national government and a challenger will face YouTube video questions in an official live TV debate. The debate will be broadcast live on TV ONE on October 14.<br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/-g1i7q-xdiY&hl=de&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/-g1i7q-xdiY&hl=de&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />If you're a Kiwi, head on over to the <a href="http://nz.youtube.com/blog?entry=sj1JOSfiJic">YouTube New Zealand blog</a> for details on how to submit your own questions.<br /><br />Posted by Steve Grove, YouTube News & Politics

The ONE News YouTube Election Debate in New Zealand

Over the course of the long U.S. Presidential election campaign, millions of people have checked out the candidates' YouTube Channels on...

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Ten years and counting

The Google doodle tradition started a long time ago (in <a href="http://www.google.com/holidaylogos99.html" id="fzjy" title="1999">summer 1999</a>, in fact) when Larry and Sergey put a <a href="http://www.google.com/tenthbirthday/#doodle-a-doodle-is-born" id="d_ee" title="stick figure">stick figure</a> on the homepage to signify that they were out of the office at <a href="http://www.burningman.com/" id="ip7:" title="Burning Man">Burning Man</a>. Nothing against stick figures, but our logo designs have become rather more varied since then. Today you'll see a special design that commemorates our 10th birthday. We've incorporated a little bit of history by using the original Google logo from 1998. And since everyone keeps asking what we'd like for our birthday (besides cake and party hats) -- the first thing we thought of was a nice new server rack.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhTxkSBYcnkJjHLqpO4cTdBDQ-S-nDC3d-YJ9UUG0e8d2UsvitLdKAs0GLp_BipdZuZ94MaGh77PJuIjO7j0CdQ2IwkUJp4t8IZVTVTj2IvpELgHznxstdPUw9eXSKkTl72OwIaIh9qNEM/s1600-h/birthday10th_comp_020.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250967521579133810" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhTxkSBYcnkJjHLqpO4cTdBDQ-S-nDC3d-YJ9UUG0e8d2UsvitLdKAs0GLp_BipdZuZ94MaGh77PJuIjO7j0CdQ2IwkUJp4t8IZVTVTj2IvpELgHznxstdPUw9eXSKkTl72OwIaIh9qNEM/s320/birthday10th_comp_020.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Update:</span> Added image.<br /><br /><span class="byline-author">Posted by Marissa Mayer, VP Search Products & User Experience, and Dennis Hwang, Webmaster</span>

Ten years and counting

The Google doodle tradition started a long time ago (in summer 1999 , in fact) when Larry and Sergey put a stick figure on the homepage to ...

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What would you ask Senators McCain and Obama?

Millions of Americans will be tuning in tonight for the <a href="http://www.olemiss.edu/debate/">first Presidential debate</a> between Senator Obama and Senator McCain. Historically, the debates are led by a moderator from a prestigious news organization, asking questions to each candidate and leaving time for a rebuttal from the other. Tonight is no different, with the well-respected <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Lehrer" id="i5mw" title="Jim Lehrer">Jim Lehrer</a> from PBS serving as the debate moderator.<br /><br />While tonight's event will be exciting, many have argued that we should consider <a href="http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2008/09/debates-mccain.html" id="e2n." title="new ways for the candidates to debate">new ways for the candidates to debate</a>. Technology has enabled a historic number of voters to learn from and participate in the election process -- something that was well illustrated by the <a href="http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/youtubedebates/index.html" id="fl9r" title="CNN/YouTube">CNN/YouTube debates</a>.<br /><br />While we're not officially part of the <a href="http://www.debates.org/" id="xld-" title="Commission of Presidential Debate">Commission of Presidential Debates</a>, a few days ago we launched <a href="http://moderator.appspot.com/" id="vt0k" title="Google Moderator">Google Moderator.</a> It's a free tool which enables communities to submit and vote on questions for debates, presentations and events. This way, the best and most representative questions rise to the top.<br /><br />One of the featured series on Google Moderator is <a href="http://moderator.appspot.com/#e%253Dagltb2RlcmF0b3JyDQsSBlNlcmllcxjvAQw" id="mjhu" title="U.S. Presidential Debates 2008">U.S. Presidential Debates 2008</a> which, at the time of this writing, has 730 people already contributing 230 questions that have over 11,000 votes. Top questions submitted so far include:<br /><blockquote><ul><li>Many Americans feel it's unfair to saddle taxpayers with the bailout of irresponsible Wall Street firms. What caused this mess and what is a fair solution which benefits the average American, not the executives who got us here in the first place? - <i>Suggested by </i><i>Doug H, Los Angeles, CA</i></li></ul><ul><li>What will be your single, top priority for your first 100 days in office? - <i>Suggested by Shira, Pensacola, FL</i></li></ul><ul><li>What will you do to reduce the size or increase the efficiency of the US government?<i> - Suggested by Dave M, Philadelphia, PA</i></li></ul></blockquote>Do these questions represent your concerns? <a href="http://moderator.appspot.com/#e%253Dagltb2RlcmF0b3JyDQsSBlNlcmllcxjvAQw">What would you ask the Presidential candidates?</a> Who knows, maybe NBC legend <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Brokaw" id="gc-d" title="Tom Brokaw">Tom Brokaw</a> will have a look at what you're asking before he moderates the next Presidential debate on October 7th in Nashville!<br /><br /><span class="byline-author">Posted by Katie Jacobs Stanton, Elections and Moderator teams</span>

What would you ask Senators McCain and Obama?

Millions of Americans will be tuning in tonight for the first Presidential debate between Senator Obama and Senator McCain. Historically, t...

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Our position on California's No on 8 campaign

As an Internet company, Google is an active participant in policy debates surrounding information access, technology and energy. Because our company has a great diversity of people and opinions -- Democrats and Republicans, conservatives and liberals, all religions and no religion, straight and gay -- we do not generally take a position on issues outside of our field, especially not social issues. So when <a href="http://www.voterguide.sos.ca.gov/title-sum/prop8-title-sum.htm">Proposition 8</a> appeared on the California ballot, it was an unlikely question for Google to take an official company position on.<br /><br />However, while there are many objections to this proposition -- further government encroachment on personal lives, ambiguously written text -- it is the chilling and discriminatory effect of the proposition on many of our employees that brings Google to publicly oppose Proposition 8. While we respect the strongly-held beliefs that people have on both sides of this argument, we see this fundamentally as an issue of equality. We hope that California voters will vote no on Proposition 8 -- we should not eliminate anyone's fundamental rights, whatever their sexuality, to marry the person they love.<br /><br /><span class="byline-author">Posted by Sergey Brin, Co-founder & President, Technology</span>

Our position on California's No on 8 campaign

As an Internet company, Google is an active participant in policy debates surrounding information access, technology and energy. Because our...

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