Ten Steps to Maximizing Energy Efficiency in the Data Center Lance Bishop When looking to becoming more energy efficient, there are a number of steps you need to take. As many already know, you have to start with commitment from the top, formalize a plan, create a budget, partner with various providers, execute selected projects, and then measure the results. However, what are some of the changes you are actually going to make, besides just an energy efficiency mission statement on the wall? Not every energy efficiency measure makes sense for a data center. Availability still wins the day, as it should, so every decision made should support the ultimate “business” objectives of the mission critical space. Today, a number of improvement options will be presented that, if implemented, would likely address about 80% of the energy waste in a data center. Less practical measures like geothermal energy, water-cooled servers, or operating without a UPS are not covered here. While these are potentially great measures, they are unlikely to be implemented for today’s typical data center. Most data centers, however, can benefit from the following energy efficiency improving steps: 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) 10)
Virtualization/consolidation High efficiency servers Limit airflow mixing (containment) Temperature/humidity set points Economization (& water-cooled chillers) High efficiency CRAC/CRAH units Automation & variable frequency drives Right size power distribution Power factor correction Demand response
Limit airflow mixing: Most data centers routinely mix hot and cold air, limiting the capacity and effectiveness of the cooling system. The can be easily remedied by placing air tiles in the cold aisle and/or locating supply vents in the cold aisle and return vents in the hot aisle. Additional steps like blanking panels, air curtains, and/or locating perimeter units perpendicular to the hot aisle will provide additional improvement. Beyond that, cold aisle or hot aisle containment will provide additional benefit by fully enclosing sections of the data center. Savings 5 – 25% Demand Response: While demand response is not an energy efficiency measure, it is a revenue generation measure that helps squeeze the most value out of the utility budget. In short, demand respond is a smart grid strategy that uses localized actions, like load shedding (turns things off) and/or backup generation, to reduce demand on the grid. Since most data centers are not Tier 3 or 4 and do have back up generation, it should be considered in some cases, particularly knowing the utility company will write a check whether it ever calls for demanding limiting or now. Since an “event” will likely lead to a brown out or black out, by participating in the program (where available), data center operators will get a heads up (often about 9 minutes), which can allow critical actions to be taken before power is cut. ……..to be expanded