Common Problems with Energy Audits
Energy Audits An energy audit is a comprehensive, methodical investigation into how energy is used within a building, facility, or system. It’s not simply a once-over of utility bills or a checklist of whether lights are turned off at night—it’s an in-depth diagnostic process, akin to a full physical for a structure’s energy metabolism. At […]
Fuel Cells in Data Centers
Fuel cells have been presented as the technology solution as the domain of datacenters seeks more power suppliers, offering a pathway to a version of sustainability,reliability, and scalability. As data centers continue to expand globally, driven by theproliferation of cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and IoT ecosystems, the demandfor clean and efficient power solutions has intensified. […]
Data Center Energy Use from Now to 2030
Projected Data Center Energy Use from Now to 2030 Data centers play an increasingly vital role in the global digital economy, supporting cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI), enterprise IT operations, and an ever-growing array of internet services. However, the energy consumption of these facilities has raised significant concerns regarding sustainability and efficiency. As we look […]
Net Zero or Zero Carbon: Differences and Implications
Net Zero or Zero Carbon: Differences and Implications In the quest for sustainability, terms like “net zero” and “zero carbon” are sometimes used interchangeably, leading to confusion about their true meanings and implications. While both concepts aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, they differ in their approaches and the extent of their environmental impact. What […]
Energy Efficiency and Increasing Data Center Temperatures Without Risk
Energy Efficiency and Increasing Data Center Temperatures Without Risk Even when ASHRAE Technical Committee 9.09 released the Thermal Guidelines for Data Processing Environments, a path to improve efficiency was laid out to be followed. And with each update additional energy savings could be found as the group found that IT equipment was becoming much more […]
Avoiding Overcooling in Data Centers
Data centers are known for their voracious appetite for energy, with cooling systems often consuming a significant portion of this power. While maintaining optimal temperatures is essential for safeguarding equipment and ensuring reliability, overcooling leads to unnecessary energy expenditure and increased operational costs. The challenges of overcooling in data centers and strategies to mitigate its […]
Waste Heat Reuse
Servers have a wide range of energy use, depending on traditional use or specialized for applications, with a typical server using around 350 watts of power. This average server also produces about 1,200 BTUs of heat every hour and for years many of us have aimed at capturing and reusing this heat. With potentially 50 servers or more in a rack, this […]
Energy Codes & Standards
In the United States there are two main documents that pertain to energy. The main one is the model code International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), developed by the International Code Council. 47 states have adopted it, as well as the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The other is Standard 90.1, […]
Lights Out
Lighting in the data center has been a target in data centers for a while, as they can have upwards of 1.5 watts per square foot of white space. While this power density may seem small by comparison with the computing loads, any lighting with over 1.0 watts per square foot is likely higher than […]
Energy Management Systems
Have you heard the phrase ‘you can’t manage what you can’t measure?’ This is true for your data center, and having an energy management system in place with your hands on the reigns gives you a good means to measure and manage. An energy management system (EMS) is to let you see where your energy […]