"Best Practice" Energy Management Delivers Dramatic Savings

Allen L. Frakes, P.E., and Michael H. Schwarz, P.E., LEED AP, KlingStubbins

Until recently, data center designers and operators worried primarily about data center reliability, with little or no focus on energy efficiency. Now that data center power density is leading to power and cooling limitations, there is a growing interest in energy efficiency as a potential solution to these problems.

In August 2007, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) delivered a report to Congress on server and data center efficiency, in response to Public Law 109-431. The 133-page document considers the opportunities for energy efficiency improvements for government and commercial computer servers and data centers in the United States. The report shows that data centers can potentially save up to $4 billion in annual electricity costs through more efficient equipment and operations, and by adopting "best energy management practices," such as "free cooling" through the use of airside and waterside economizers.

Recent studies show that combined with best-practices air management, such as strict hot aisle/cold aisle configuration, an airside economizer can reduce data center cooling costs by over 60 percent. Waterside economizers that use heat exchangers can be similarly effective while reducing the risk of airborne pollutants.

This presentation will look at both airside and waterside economizers, comparing and contrasting both techniques and providing perspective on the best options based on a case study of two side-by-side designs of a 20,000-square-foot raised floor data center for a major pharmaceutical client in northern New Jersey. The case study will include cost models and energy simulations for two alternate design solutions—1) conventional distributed CRAC units with waterside economizer, and 2) a central air handling system with air economizer. Participants will leave the presentation with a fresh perspective on proven technology that may be applied to new data centers anywhere in the country.

Biographies:

Allen L. Frakes, P.E., is an engineering design principal with KlingStubbins in Philadelphia. KlingStubbins provides professional services in all major disciplines within the realm of architecture, engineering, interiors, planning, and landscape architecture. In his roll as Engineering Design Principal, Allen primarily focuses on high-performance and mission-critical projects such as research and development laboratories and data centers. He is responsible for developing global engineering criteria and establishing conceptual engineering direction for the project, considering all project goals and objectives and overseeing conformance with established engineering concepts throughout the project.

During his 25-year career, Allen has led the design of research laboratories, laboratory animal facilities, pilot process development plants, pharmaceutical and biomanufacturing clean spaces, data processing facilities, and corporate office buildings. He is also an active member and speaker for industry associations such as the International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE) and ASHRAE.

Prior to joining KlingStubbins, Allen was Principal and Director of Engineering for EYP in New York. He is a graduate of the Pennsylvania State University with a degree in Architectural Engineering.

Michael H. Schwarz, P.E., LEED AP, is an HVAC engineer with KlingStubbins in Philadelphia. Actively involved in the application of modeling technology for mechanical systems design and the conservation of energy use in buildings, he has designed HVAC systems and performed studies for a variety of projects, including data centers, offices, and laboratories.

He is a published author in magazines such as HPAC and the 7x24 Exchange's Newslink. Michael is a graduate of the Pennsylvania State University with a degree in Architectural Engineering.

Back to Agenda