Retrofitting Data Centers for Expanded Capacity and Improved Energy Efficiency
Eric Soladay, P.E., LEED AP®, Integral Group
Many existing data centers are operating at peak design capacities and cannot grow any further without incurring substantial infrastructure costs. As an alternative, increased capacity can be gained by improving the efficiency of the existing HVAC and electrical systems. By making the cooling system more efficient and reducing electrical losses, existing power is made available for more servers. Many utilities also have rebate programs that can help finance these upgrades, which continue to save money every year they operate more efficiently.
Integral Group has analyzed hundreds of data centers for specific energy efficiency measures, their impact on energy use, and corresponding peak load reductions. Some of the typical measures include air- and water-side economizing, hot/cold aisle containment, increasing temperature differences, installing variable frequency drives, and high-efficiency uninterruptible power supplies. During this presentation, the speakers will discuss the most commonly implemented measures, typical cost savings, and increased capacity, as well as common barriers to implementation.
Finally, we will present case studies to illustrate some of these approaches and the real-world limitations, opportunities, and savings available to data center operators ready to optimize their existing data center. Efficient operation and data center reliability are not mutually exclusive; in fact, most efficiency upgrades enhance reliability through more effective air distribution, less compressor run time, and, under most operating conditions, more distributed and robust cooling capacity.
Biography:
Eric Soladay is an innovative, goal-oriented mechanical engineer responsible for the procurement, management, and design of building engineering system projects with architectural and social significance, sustainable and efficient systems, and cost- and maintenance-conscious designs. As high-technology team manager, Mr. Soladay is responsible for the design of all high-technology projects and commissioning for all projects. As project manager and mechanical engineer of record at Integral Group, Mr. Soladay has led several significant projects, including a planned LEED® Platinum retrofit of a historical laboratory building; a 180,000-square-foot data center with groundbreaking energy-efficient design; a 190,000-square-foot mixed use retail/commercial development in Palo Alto, California; and the Packard Foundation Headquarters, a 30,000-square-foot commercial/institutional zero-energy building.