COOLING ENERGY COSTS IN DATA CENTERS ACCOUNTS FOR 40% OF TOTAL ENERGY BILL
IS THAT ACCEPTABLE?
If you are in a role as an energy manager, or involved in data center operations you should be aware of the high energy consumption of the data centre and especially the portion of total energy costs driven by cooling.
“According to research, anywhere between 30 and 55 percent of a data center’s energy consumption goes into powering its cooling and ventilation systems — with the average hovering around 40 percent. In short, a data center’s cooling costs can approach, equal or even surpass the cost of powering the IT equipment it houses.”
Source:https://dataspan.com/blog/data-center-cooling-costs/WHAT CAN BE ACHIEVED WHEN YOU TAKE STEPS TO IMPROVE COOLING IN A LEGACY DATA CENTER?
Here are two case studies for sites where we have implemented cooling optimization using existing cooling systems.
To achieve the savings the following actions were taken:
- Improved air flow management
- Existing cooling units were retrofitted with updated technology to be more responsive to ambient temperatures
- Networking and sequencing of cooling units was implemented
- Operating parameters (temperature and humidity set points) were modified
As cooling efficiency increases, more IT load can be added with existing cooling, meaning capital spend for additional cooling units is deferred. Overall thermal conditions (inlet temperatures to IT equipment) improves meaning IT equipment was operates better and thermal risk and downtime is reduced.
WE’RE STILL LEFT WONDERING
The real question is why are companies not taking more action to reduce cooling costs when it will have a significant impact on energy savings and sustainability via reduction in GHG and carbon footprint?
Is it a concern about data center uptime if changes are made?
– the measures taken in the case studies show that thermal risk is reduced by improving air flow management and cooling operation
Is it due to the perceived cost, even though these measures will have a 3 year or less payback?
– continuing to operate under current conditions can account for hundreds of thousands of wasted expenses. In the above case studies the five year cost savings was over $300K in each site
Is it due to a lack of knowledge as to what can/should be done?
– check out our website www.sct-inc.com for more case studies of how cooling costs can be reduced and thermal performance enhanced in a cost effective manner.
We’d be interested in hearing why you’re not concerned about wasting money on inefficient cooling, costing tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of dollars each year.
What’s holding you back? Give us a call or get in touch with us to discuss how this could work in your data center.