As many school kids know, the 3Rs – reduce, reuse, recycle – are the fundamental building blocks for protecting the environment. Of course, the order is important. For instance, reducing energy use – convincing my teenagers to take shorter showers or turn off a light once in a while – has more “green” benefits than recycling.

The second R – reuse – has just as much potential to limit environmental impact and cut costs. As data centers regularly upgrade to keep pace with the latest technology, the question inevitably arises – “what do we do with the old gear?”

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