Green Data Center - DP Air

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Green Data Center Using Measurement Tools to
Calculate Efficiency
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Green Data Center

• When it comes to designing a green data center,
  much can be done to promote energy efficiency and
  savings. Advanced technologies can help optimize
  roofs, walls, floors, layouts, cooling, lighting,
  server configuration and building management. The
  critical component of green initiatives is to
  properly plan the data center facility before
  equipment is installed.

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Green Data Center

• Green data center design efforts begin with the
  physical structure. Every detail of building
  construction is analyzed for efficiency. If not
  done during the design phase of a project,
  increasing efficiency becomes more costly,
  time-consuming and labor-intensive. And, the
  efficiencies gained after the fact may be
  limited.

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Green Data Center

• Incorporating green data center design from the
  start of a building project ensures the best
  levels of efficiencies and cost savings. Plus,
  businesses are better positioned to qualify for
  utility rebates, tax credits and other energy
  efficiency incentives.

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Green Data Center

• Knowing How to Measure a Green Data Center
• Data centers are well known culprits for
  consuming vast amounts of energy. Not only
  costly, this energy consumption hinders good
  corporate citizenship. Therefore, todays data
  center managers are measuring efficiency so they
  have a guide for improvements.
• One industry measurement tool is the Power Usage
  Efficiency (PUE) metric. This measurement will
  tell a data center operator where they stand in
  terms of energy efficiency. The company can then
  develop strategies to lower its PUE rating.

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Green Data Center

• PUE ratings are a good start for becoming a green
  data center and provide a baseline measurement.
  Industry sources publish ratings from which data
  center operators can compare their facilities.
• The benefit of using a PUE rating for green data
  center goals is the consistent method of
  measuring energy consumption it provides. As the
  data center evolves with new technologies and
  equipment, the PUE rating can highlight the
  effects on energy efficiency.
• The calculation involves a ratio of power
  available to power being used. The result of
  this calculation will be a factor greater than
  one. Therefore, the higher the calculated ratio,
  the less efficient energy consumption is in the
  data center.

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Green Data Center

• Another measurement tool is the Data Center
  Infrastructure Efficiency (DCiE). As the inverse
  of PUE, DCiE is the ratio of energy used in the
  data center compared to the total power
  available. The result will be less than one,
  with the best efficiency ratings being the
  closest to one. To help a companys green data
  center initiatives, online tools exist to help
  calculate these measurements.

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Green Data Center

• The Importance of PUE and DCiE Measurements
• In addition to providing a baseline measurement
  for data center efficiency, PUE and DCiE
  calculations can provide crucial decision-making
  information. When companies commit to operating
  a green data center, they can decide if it makes
  better sense to build a new facility or enhance
  an existing one.

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Green Data Center

• These measurements also help with goal setting.
  For example, once a PUE rating is established,
  the company can set a goal to lower it to a
  certain number. To achieve this goal, the
  company develops strategies to improve energy
  consumption levels.
• Power and cooling are prime targets for energy
  efficiency increases. The data center managers
  can develop strategies to reduce power
  consumption and improve cooling system operation.
  Some of these efforts can be straight-forward
  and make good economical sense. Other times, the
  existing data center might be at the end of its
  lifecycle and need replacement.

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About the Author

• Arnie W. Evdokimo is Chief Executive Officer of
  DP Air Corporation, a leading provider of data
  center design, build and maintenance services
  based in Phoenix, Arizona.
• For more information about green data centers,
  visit http//www.DPAir.com today.