Energy Efficient Data Centers

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Energy Efficient Data Centers

• Update on LBNL data center energy efficiency
  projects

• June 23, 2005
• Bill Tschudi
• Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
• Wftschudi_at_lbl.gov

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LBNLs energy research related to data centers

• Energy research roadmap
• Case studies and energy benchmarking
• Best practice identification
• Self benchmarking protocol
• Investigate efficiency of power supplies in IT
  equipment
• Investigate efficiency of UPS systems
• Metrics for computing performance vs. energy
• Technology transfer
• Demonstration projects

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Data center efficiency opportunity

• Many efficiency ideas have been identified
  through industry feedback
• Case studies are helping to identify best
  practices

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Data center efficiency resources

• ASHRAE Thermal Guidelines for Data Processing
  Environments
• ASHRAE Power Trends and Cooling Applications
• In preparation ASHRAE Design Considerations for
  Data Center and Communications Equipment Centers
  which includes a chapter on energy efficiency

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Case studies/benchmarks

• California
• Storage device and router Mfgs.
• Banks
• Web hosting facilities
• Internet service provider
• State tax center
• Federal facilities
• New York
• Recovery center (hosting)
• Financial institution

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IT equipment load intensities

• Data collected in 1999 through 2003 showed
  that electrical power intensity for IT equipment
  alone was on the order of 25 Watts/sf.
• Current data suggests that load intensities are
  rising through compaction and/or due to rising
  equipment power consumption.

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2003 IT equipment loads from LBNL case studies
Average 27 /-
(W/sf of electrically active floor space using
Uptime definition)
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2003 projections if fully loaded
Projected Average 44
(W/sf of electrically active floor space using
Uptime definition)
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Distribution of computer load intensities
reported to Uptime Institute
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2005 IT equipment benchmarks
LBNL NERSC supercomputer
Average 52 w/sf
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Electrical power conversion is a big opportunity

• Every conversion of AC voltage, AC to DC, DC to
  AC, or DC voltage conversion results in loss of
  electrical power and corresponding heat that must
  be removed from the data center. Minimizing this
  conversion loss has a magnifying effect that
  allows all facility systems to use less energy
  and consequently the infrastructure systems can
  be downsized.
• Saving say 10 on the conversion loss could
  result in 20 or more saving for the facility.

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How many times do data centers convert AC and DC?
AC voltage conversions
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Measured UPS efficiency
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Measured UPS losses
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Measured UPS losses
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Electricity use in a server
Based on a typical dual processor 450W 2U Server
Approximately 160W out of 450W (35) are losses
in the power conversion process (Source Brian
Griffith INTEL)
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Power supply opportunity
Based on one case study approximately 4335 KW of
a total of 8500 kW was IT load. Assuming a 65
existing baseline efficiency, the savings
opportunity using 90 efficient conversion
process is approximately 1300kW not including any
savings from HVAC
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Power supply efficiency recommendations

• The Server Systems Infrastructure group (SSI)
  publishes recommended minimum efficiencies for
  server power supplies. The LBNL project team is
  working with this group to see what can be done
  to raise the bar.

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Power supply efficiency today
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Measured power supply efficiency
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Energy efficiency opportunity

• Specifiers of UPSs or IT equipment can have a
  huge impact on energy use by requiring higher
  efficiencies. Testing data shows that higher
  efficiencies can be obtained you have to ask
  for it. Facility and IT professionals by working
  together can optimize overall power conversions.
  Additional costs (if any) for more efficient
  conversions will have a very short payback or may
  be entirely justified by reductions in
  infrastructure.

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Effectiveness of HVAC systems
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Index of performance

• The Uptime Institute proposed a metric to
  evaluate the total efficiency of infrastructure
  systems
• Index of performance building systems KW ?
  UPS output
• (i.e. ratio of building systems to IT equipment
  load)

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Look at the end-use
Data Center A
Data Center B
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LBNL high-tech buildings website
http//hightech.lbl.gov