Fuel cells have been providing energy to the data center industry for over a decade, with many performing far beyond expectations. They were chosen for their reliability with constant loads and efficiency, operating to supplement or replace part of power drawn from the utility. Another touted benefit is their environmental impact, reducing the carbon footprint […]
Renewable energy and onsite power generation has taken significant strides in use and availability but there are still challenges in connections, expectations and experience. Although performance of the systems has increased while cost has gone down, tax credits and incentives are still needed to ensure that the return on investment is still attractive. Spatial requirements […]
The debate about whether a raised floor is designed and installed for a data center has gone on for years, with the fate of raised floor seemingly coming to an end. However, when diving into the matter, the decisions are often about the best way to manage cables, supply cooling water and airflow, and supporting […]
I thought I’d provide a few highlights from what I learned and heard at the ASHRAE 2012 Winter meeting in Chicago. ASHRAE has gone through some rebranding, including a new logo & tagline: Shaping Tomorrow’s Built Environment Today. Of data center interest: Technical Committee 9.9 (http://tc99.ashraetcs.org/) had two meetings at the conference; for more information it […]
