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Greening the data center can actually reduce your budget

Do you have “green fatigue”? I hope not, because in reality the so-called Green Initiative is the most positive development for the data center industry in over thirty years. This author – along with the help from the team at OMS In Your Datacenter, LLC, who are the sponsors of this online resource – will bring you reports directly from the trenches to help you “Go Green and Save Green” by embracing the latest Data Center Best Practices that we encounter and share with you within this forum.

Our team has over 30 years experience in the management of the data center which includes implementing and validating best practices as well as the design of infrastructure and facilities. We hope you, as a data center professional and colleague, return often to this forum to share the latest green research that can actually reduce your budget while [cue the heavenly choir] saving the planet. We welcome your comments, feedback, and best practice contributions to this forum in the coming months.

ASHRAE/DOE Workshop

Data Center Energy Efficiency

The Department of Energy assigned Bob Doherty of OMS in Your Data Center, LLC as the Massachusetts sponsor for this first of its kind workshop in the state. ASHRAE presented this Data Center Energy Efficiency Workshop for the first time in Massachusetts in March of 2010 and again in 2011. With support from the Massachusetts Energy Efficiency Partnership, this workshop was held at the NStar headquarters in Westwood, MA. Keep your mail and requests for another workshop coming in so we might entice sponsorship of another workshop in 2012.

BACKGROUND ON THE WORKSHOP

ASHRAE in collaboration with the DOE offers a full-day workshop focusing on opportunities for improving energy efficiency in data center. The workshop supports the DOE vision to create guidelines for continuous energy efficiency improvement by inspiring data center owners to take action to begin reducing energy.

Each attendee receives a workbook with copies of all presentation slides, a CD with all presentations, a voucher for one free ASHRAE Datacom book, and a 50% discount coupon for purchase of other Datacom books.

Bob Doherty is awarded certification by the U.S. Department of Energy as one of their experts in data center energy efficiency.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Industrial Technologies Program announces that Bob Doherty of OMS in Your Data Center LLC, is awarded certification as a Data Center Energy Practitioners – DCEP.

This DOE pilot program is designed to raise the standards of those involved in the energy assessments of data centers. It is driven by the principal that significant knowledge, training, and skills are required to perform data center energy assessments. The DCEP program was developed and implemented in close coordination with industry stakeholders to train a core group of professional energy practitioners to help data centers reduce their energy demands and accelerate energy savings.

OMS in Your Data Center LLC has partnered with the DOE Save Energy Now Program and the American Society for Heating, Refrigeration, and Air-Conditioning Engineers TC 9.9 to improve the energy efficiency of data centers and to reduce their carbon footprint. Founder and principal of OMS’, Bob Doherty, was invited to attend and comment on the DCEP pilot course held in San Francisco in November, 2010. After an intense training and tough examination Bob successfully passes, and was awarded the DCEP Certification from the DOE.

The entire pilot program included about 100 professionals who completed their training and exams designed to demonstrate proficiency in the use of select ITP energy assessment tools. Training and testing took place throughout 2010 and the DOE has set a target of 200 certified DCEP by the end on 2011.

See what Matt Stansberry has to report about Energy Efficient IT to start the new decade. In SearchDataCenter.com we found Matt reporting on an interview with our own Bob Doherty, now the principal at OMS In Your Data Center, LLC. Bob’s work continues to be a truism for the data center industry.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Matt Stansberry has been reporting on the convergence of IT, facility management and energy issues since 2003. He has been writing and editing for SearchDataCenter.com since its launch in January 2005. Prior to that, he was managing editor of Today’s Facility Manager magazine and a staff writer for the U.S. Green Building Council. He can be reached at mstansberry@techtarget.com.

Tell the Energy Secretary about your Green plans

We are asking that CIO’s and Data Center Managers step up. Join forces with OMS in Your Data Center, LLC by pledging to improve the energy efficiency in your data center by 25% over the next ten years. This voluntary program is akin to the Save Energy Now Leader Program launched by the Department of Energy. This will be a voluntary statement from the IT and Data Center community to reduce their carbon footprint by becoming more energy efficient.

This pledge for energy efficiency not only reduces greenhouse gas emissions, it shows that the entire data center industry has a focus on their corporate responsibility as well as in enhancing their image as a responsible corporate citizen and in being a well managed, socially and environmentally responsible industry.

The Secretary of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Cathy Zoi has set the standard by announcing the DOE Save Energy Now Leadership Program this month (12/2009). Now I send this challenge to every data center manager and CIO to follow suit – Save Energy now.

This is a voluntary program without examination or audit – the honor system. OMS’ reporting will be done by State without addresses. To participate just send an e-mail to info@ComputerRooms.com with a subject line of ‘Pledge’. Provide your company name and commentary on your pledge to improve the energy efficiency of your data center over the next 10 years by 25%. This pledge is about improving the energy efficiency in your data center. This might be accomplished through the installation of more energy efficient hardware, installing air or water side economizers, implementing ASHRAE new thermal guidelines, air blocking, air management, improved humidity controls, improving your equipment refresh rate, retro-commissioning, consolidation, virtualization, implementing hot aisle cold aisle, or it may be realized in the construction of a new energy efficient data center facility, and don’t overlook renewable energy possibilities.

Please provide adequate contact information for tracking. Pledge each data center location separately.

Every time OMS in Your Data Center LLC receives 25 new data center pledges, a notice will be sent to the Secretary of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy and to the DOE proclaiming the data center industry is taking seriously the need for energy efficiency and of our commitment and pledge for reducing green house gas emissions.

Air Management in the Data Center is one of the most pragmatic starting points for Greening in Your Data Center. Undeniably, it is the best, most fruitful solution available to all of us in the Data Center industry. It starts with Hot Aisle/Cold Aisle, continues with air blocking, air damming avoidance, and the all too often forgotten need to follow up with managing and validating all the positive work you did to initially implement these Best Practices.

Heat can be a friend in the Data Center

Why thermal considerations? Because ASHRAE TC 9.9 committee has redefined the Data Center.

Heat is your friend.

Initially viewed to be controversial, you should know that the new ASHRAE TC 9.9 guidelines give credible information and standards for the Data Center. There was much collaboration and testing on temperature and humidity. These new operating recommendations represent a “statement of reliability”. That is, ASHRAE proclaims it is safe to operate the Data Center at either extreme of their recommended ranges  without fear for equipment failure or reduced equipment life expectancy.

With that as a brief background, here are my Data Center Thermal Best Practices:

• Humidity Set Point RH 40 to 60%
• Temperature Set Point 64.4 to 80.6 F
• CARC / CRAH  Balancing
• Maint
• Commissioning
• Recommissioning

Once I became aware of the ASHRAE TC 9.9 mission and their Datacom focus, I sought membership and participation. That was  year-long process but I am now a member (non voting) of ASHRAE TC 9.9.

I had been experimenting with a few product designs, power conservation, and trying to determine the density ceiling my Data Centers would tolerate. I also dabbled in testing how particulate matter effected cooling and operation in my Data Centers. The testing I performed in heat density was more aggressive than the new ASHRAE guidelines, so I suggest the new guidelines should work quite well in the Data Center.

ASHRAE TC 9.9 published a 2009 Thermal Guidelines for Data Processing Environments. I recommend this book for Data Center and Facilities staff.

OK, enough background info – here are some Best Practices:

It is OK to turn the heat up to 80.4F – wow! But know that some equipment manufacturers turn up fan speed when they sense increased temperatures. This may increase energy use, so know what your manufacturer’s specifications are. In the meantime, consider turning the temp up to 77F until you know more about your specific equipment.
Send us an E-mail for further discussion on this one – but before you call, know that BobD likes it hot.

There continues to be some work on Humidity and ESD by ASHRAE TC 9.9. In light of this, I caution that you validate there is appropriate access floor grounding, the top surface of the access floor is maintained according to manufacturer’s specifications, the floor laminate is not waxed, and staff make appropriate use of grounding straps. If your Data Center is not equipped with a high efficient centralized humidification system – look into them. Validate that any new system will have multiple sensors deployed throughout the Data Center.

CRACs should work in harmony with each other. If one is humidifying, all should be humidifyins – or cooling. This is best done through automation with a central control system; else it needs to be done manually. Keeping mechanical equipment well maintained and in good, clean operating condition is important. Proactive Maintenance is a must for the health and reliability of your Data Center.

OMS in Your Data Center LLC promotes the need for recommissioning mechanical systems in the Data Center. Depending in utilization, cleanliness, and the maintenance record of you equipment, our recommendation ranges from 3 to 5 year.

Even Microsoft proclaims that ASHRAE is somewhat conservative in Greening the Data Center by opeating at thermal extremes.

Know that it is OK to experiment – test new boundaries. Embrace Data Center Best Practices and keep on monitoring and taking your metrics.

OMS in Your Data Center LLC can take the heat. Send us an e-mail or call to talk about Best Practices.

Don't hide from Air Management in the Data Center

Data Center Best Practices can be a wondrously successful discipline. Knowing how and where to implement best practices, being consistent in doing so, and validating them periodically and consistently will save cash in your data center.

What is Air Blocking?

In simple terms, Air Blocking is managing the separation of hot air from cold air. Cold Air is that critical commodity needed for optimal computer equipment operation and performance. In the Data Center, all cold air should be claimed and directed toward cooling equipment – and only for cooling equipment. Hot Air is that commodity which allows for optimal efficiency in computer room air conditioner (CRAC) unit performance.

So, cold air seems to be a positive thing. That is fairly intuitive for all of us. But now – possibly for the first time ever -  you are hearing  that hot air can also be a good thing! I will leave you to dwell on that concept at your leisure and I will expand on that in upcoming articles, but in the interim here is my short list for Data Center Best Practices for Air Blocking:

• Blanking Plates
• Racking Systems w/air management design
• Access Floor cutout blocking
• Positive Room Pressure
• Hot Aisle Cold Aisle
• Air side economization
• Damming avoidance
• Wire Cable Trays
• Turn up the temperature
• Get aggressive

Our team has proven consistently that these pragmatic best practices actually do work and actually do reduce your energy budget (and I’m not talking about spending a pound to save a penny either – these are genuine bottom-line savings right from the start). When Air Blocking is implemented consistently, managed properly, and validated consistently you can

1. reduce the power used for cooling in your Data Center by as much as 30%
2. double equipment density, and
3. realize a higher return on precious Data Center real estate.

Of course, this is just an overview. In upcoming articles I will expand on each of these Air Blocking categories with practical applications of each one – as well as more on other Best Practice topics. Stay tuned.