Explore the blueprints

Here, we are committed to sharing detailed technical guides designed to pave the way for a sustainable and standardized technology future.

What is a Blueprint?

In traditional terms, a blueprint refers to a detailed technical drawing. It's often a foundational plan or a map for architects and engineers to craft structures and systems that stand the test of time.

According to Wiktionary, one of the closest dictionary definitions is:

(architecture, engineering, by extension) A detailed technical drawing (now often in some electronically storable and transmissible form).

For OpenUK, a Blueprint is a comprehensive guide or roadmap for creating sustainable and standardised technology infrastructure. Each Blueprint is developed by a diverse group of volunteers and experts from both the public and private sectors, encompassing:

• A detailed plan of the required components.
• Insight into the impacts these components create.
• Formulation based on the principles of open source software, open hardware, and open data.

At the core, each Blueprint is the product of collaborative minds. It's developed by a diverse group of volunteers and experts from both the public and private sectors, ensuring that every perspective is considered and the best solutions are put forth.

Why the Emphasis on Blueprints?

As our world becomes increasingly digital and connected, the ICT industry faces a pressing challenge. The global demand for data and digital services is exponentially growing. But with this growth comes an undeniable environmental cost. We recognize that the ICT industry is on track to significantly increase its carbon footprint, and the data centres — the backbone of the industry — play a pivotal role in this. We also recognize the challenge and opportunity in addressing waste, inefficiency, and the lack of standardized solutions. Blueprints serve as a beacon in this vast landscape, providing:

• Sustainable Solutions: Each blueprint is rooted in sustainability. Whether it's about maximizing energy efficiency or advocating for a circular economy, blueprints are designed with the future of our planet in mind.
• Open Collaboration: By embracing the principles of open source software, open hardware, and open data, we ensure that the blueprints can be easily accessed, modified, and improved upon. This open approach encourages collaboration and innovation.
• Standardization: As the industry grows, standardization becomes crucial. Our blueprints offer a consistent roadmap for creating technology infrastructure that meets set standards and is universally adaptable.

Dive into Our Featured Blueprints

What happens if we don't work together?

We risk creating a fragmented and unsustainable tech ecosystem. The 'not invented here' syndrome could cause tech companies to avoid adopting solutions developed elsewhere, even if they're superior. This mentality not only hampers cross-pollination of ideas but also leads to inefficiencies and duplicated efforts.

If we continue to ignore sustainability in our tech operations, the environmental implications could be dire. As we know, data centres are one of the largest consumers of electricity worldwide. If left unchecked, their energy consumption and the associated carbon emissions could contribute significantly to climate change.

In essence, if we don't tackle these issues head-on, we risk not only impeding technological progress, but we may also exacerbate environmental issues and slow down the much-needed transition to more sustainable energy solutions.

How is the content licenced?

Data is licenced under the CDLA permissive 2.0. Code is released under Apache 2.0 licence. All text content is Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-SA 2.0).

OpenUK is passionate about leading the charge towards a more sustainable and open technology future. We invite you to explore, collaborate, and build upon our blueprints. Together, we can drive change, innovation, and a brighter future for all.

Thank you for being a part of this journey.