A Practical Method to Reduce HVAC Energy in Data Centers

Panel: Panel 1. Investing in Energy–Saving Technologies

Authors:
William Dunckel, Pacific Gas and Electric Company
Francois Xavier Rongere, Pacific Gas and Electric Company

Abstract

Data Centers present a good opportunity for energy efficiency. In 2006 PG&E estimated that data centers accounted for over 400MW of power and 2.5Twh/yr of energy in PG&E service territory. Since then several new data centers have been built and existing data centers expanded in Northern California and there is no indication that this will trend will end soon.

Over the last decade many data centers were built with the focus on creating new capacity quickly rather than on cost of operation. Consequently, many exist today that are inherently inefficient from the standpoint of energy use. The bright side is that this creates the potential to save a large percentage of their energy use through energy efficiency efforts.

Today, there is a new market situation for data centers. The quest for increased computing capacity from the device to the facility level continues. However, data center operators today are often looking for ways to cut costs and Information Technology directors are looking for ways to comply with corporate green initiatives. This is an excellent setting for offering retrofit measures to help reduce data center electricity use and the associated environmental foot print.

The challenge for PG&E was to develop retrofit measures that would not interfere with data center operations but would provide the short payback Silicon Valley companies expect. This paper explains how one successful measure was developed and deployed rapidly. Source: EPA report to the US Congress August 2nd, 2007