The　efficient　deployment　of　virtual　network　functions　(VNFs)　for　network　service　provisioning　is　key　for　achieving　network　function　virtualization　(NFV);　however,　most　existing　studies　address　only　offline　or　one-off　deployments　of　service　function　chains　(SFCs)　while　neglecting　the　dynamic　(i.e.,　online)　deployment　and　expansion　requirements.　In　particular,　many　methods　of　energy/resource　cost　reduction　are　achieved　by　merging　VNFs.　However,　the　energy　waste　and　device　wear　for　large-scale　collections　of　servers　(e.g.,　cloud　networks　and　data　centers)　caused　by　sporadic　request　updating　are　ignored.　To　solve　these　problems,　we　propose　an　energy-aware　routing　and　adaptive　delayed　shutdown　(EAR-ADS)　algorithm　for　dynamic　SFC　deployment,　which　includes　the　following　features:　1)　energy-aware　routing　(EAR):　by　considering　a　practical　deployment　environment,　a　flexible　solution　is　developed　based　on　reusing　open　servers　and　selecting　paths　with　the　aims　of　balancing　energy　and　resources　and　minimizing　the　total　cost　and　2)　adaptive　delayed　shutdown　(ADS):　the　delayed　shutdown　time　of　the　servers　can　be　flexibly　adjusted　in　accordance　with　the　usage　of　each　device　in　each　time　slot,　thus　eliminating　the　no-load　wait　time　of　the　servers　and　frequent　on/off　switching.　Therefore,　the　EAR-ADS　can　achieve　dual-energy　savings　by　both　decreasing　the　number　of　open　servers　and　reducing　the　idle/switching　energy　consumption　of　these　servers.　The　simulation　results　show　that　EAR-ADS　not　only　minimizes　the　cost　of　energy　and　resources　but　also　achieves　an　excellent　success　rate　and　stability.　Moreover,　EAR-ADS　is　efficient　compared　with　an　improved　Markov　algorithm　(SAMA),　reducing　the　average　deployment　time　by　more　than　a　factor　of　40.　©　2014　IEEE.