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elcome to ComputerRooms.com – an online forum for presenting and discussing Best Practices for today’s corporate data center professionals.

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.

The average corporate Data Center houses a most valued commodity – your business.

The following is a brief on keeping it clean:

The industry norms for cleaning in your data center are not publicized often – so here they are along with a recommendation for establishing an SOP. This Standard Operating Procedure for routine and non-routine cleaning needs to be communicated to staff with access to the data center.  Make it known not only IT & Facilities staff, but vendors, contractors, and maintenance staff who may have data center access. Clearly assign a responsible party in this – such as the shift lead. A “crash cart” with cleaning and emergency supplies and a powerful HEPA vacuum should be available.

Consider as part of shift-turnover, a walkthrough of the data center and surrounding areas to validate security, safety, unknown staff and or vendor presence, and a cleanliness contamination check. It becomes routine when part of a shift turnover.

There are minimum recommendations for cleaning in the data center. They are truly the minimum – so I leave it up to each data center manager to know their space and the needed cleaning frequency.

Experience has proven time and time again that data center professional cleaners are needed for this job.  Not just professional cleaning companies – rather Data Center Professional Cleaning companies and clean room cleaning companies. This is of critical importance in the Data Center.

Send comments and questions to info@ComputerRooms.com

ASHRAE is an informative and valued source when managing data centers. See the Datacom publications prepared in cooperation with TC 9.9, Mission Critical Facilities, Technology Spaces and Electronic Equipment. Some of the references in this writing are from book #8 Gaseous Contamination in Datacom Environments.

The DOE Save Energy Now program is partnering with industry leaders to develop a certification for practitioners who evaluate energy efficiency in data centers. From an international pool only 85 were selected for the pilot. Our very own Bob Doherty was one of those accepted to participate in this Data Center Certified Energy Practitioner (DC-CEP) pilot.

The DC-CEP program is designed to raise the standards of those involved in the energy assessment of data centers. The program is driven by the principal that significant knowledge, training, and skills are required to perform data center energy assessments.

Data center professionals will look to DOE certified practitioners with confidence, knowing they are getting the highest level of service, skill and knowledge in their energy assessments. Individuals who attain DC-CEP certification will have the unique advantage in winning data center analysis, remediation and consulting work in the growing competitive landscape of data center energy efficiency remediation.

The Call2Recycle® program offers retailers, communities, public agencies, and businesses a unique opportunity to help preserve the environment, project a pro-active image, and foster business through increased sales or traffic.

You can become a Call2Recycle collection center!

Rechargeable batteries accepted by Call2Recycle are: Nickel Cadmium, Nickel Metal Hydride, Nickel Zinc, Lithium Ion and Small Sealed Lead weighing less than 11 lbs/ 5 kg each. These types of batteries can be found in cordless power tools, cellular and cordless phones, laptop computers, digital cameras, two-way radios, camcorders, and remote control toys. RBRC Battery Recycle Seals on portable rechargeable batteries are part of this free program.

Call2Recycle provides all collection containers and collateral materials, and pays all shipping and recycling costs. Call2Recycle also can supply participants with detailed collection reports, as well as Certificates of Recycling. The transport and recycling of used rechargeable batteries and cell phones are in full compliance with the U.S. DOT and the Universal Waste Rule.

Most importantly, the program is FREE and EASY!

Benefits of being a rechargeable battery and cell phone collection site:

• Project a green image
• Joining our program demonstrates your commitment to preserving the environment
• Conserve natural resources
• Primary components of rechargeable batteries can be reclaimed to make new products
• cell phones are refurbished and resold when possible
• portions of the proceeds received from resale will benefit select charities
• meet state legal requirements
• some states may require varying levels of retail participation in the recycling of rechargeable batteries

Contact OMS in Your Data Center, LLC to receive containers and collection materials free.

Call:     508-872-3100
E-Mail:     INFO@ComputerRooms.com

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. 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 so we might entice sponsorship of another workshop.

BACKGROUND ON THE WORKSHOP

ASHRAE in collaboration with the DOE offer a full-day workshop focusing on opportunities for improving energy efficiency in data center / Datacom facilities. 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.

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.