Data Centers Prepare for a Renewable Future

miller60 writes "A small but growing number of data centers are generating renewable energy at their facility, despite challenges with cost and scalability. In a special report, Data Center Knowledge looks at data centers implementing on-site solar power, wind energy, geothermal cooling and recycling waste heat from their hot aisles. Even as some projects choose to go green, other data center operators insist that improved power efficiency offers a far better return and carbon impact than pursuing on-site renewables."

been there, done that

[Anonymous Coward]

My (small) datacenter is 100% off-the-grid solar powered (with redundant power feeds from two PV systems), and I recycle the waste heat.

It wasn't particularly "difficult" or "expensive", but a good example of what's possible when you *really* care about solving the problem.

Re:id like to see

[Bryansix]

Effecient Office design can be good but it can have it's drawbacks. For instance, we are in a suite of a larger office building that was once part of another suite. They built walls but they did not install a 24/7 A/C unit for our server rack. Instead we operate a floor model which emits it hot air into the drop ceiling thereby causing further ineffeciencies. So yes, effeciency is good but good planning and scalability and flexability are sometime more important.

Re:Green Institutions

[codepunk]

Any how many of their workers telecommute, imagine if all of them did, savings of probably 100's of tousands of gallons of gasoline not burned. I often imagine how much gasoline could be saved in this country if nearly every office worker in the country that was able to, could telecommute the majority of the time.

Re:Well, not exactly

[poetmatt]

do you mean symbolic or symbiotic? I can't exactly find that term if you mean symbiotic.

Meanwhile, I agree about performance per watt but I do not agree about idle wattage. It's been shown that for many processors idle wattage is quite low in comparison. In fact, complete computer systems tend to use exponentially more power as they head closer to 100% load or above.

An Efficient Office

[MrSteve007]

I manage and operate one of the more efficient office spaces in the US (I was awarded a National EnergyStar award in 2008 for my work). We've implemented almost everything possible for our small server racks. We've gone from 8 machines to 3 via virtualization, and have a 10kW array and 40kw battery backup for our operation - which now results in zero down time. In doing just that, we've gone from 58 kWh used from the grid a day for our servers to zero (the PV array supports it). Also, instead of using dedicated A/C - we've re-engineered our ductwork to pull in ambient air from the office space, and redirect the hot exhaust to different locations. During the summer, it's dumped directly outside - and during the winter it's used to heat our entrances and used to cover the heating needs of the building at night.

In terms of energy use for the servers and A/C alone, we're saving about $4,000 a year - and that's just for a small server arrangement.

http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=labeled_buildings.showProfile&profile_id=1008052 [energystar.gov]

Re:Time is nigh for room-temp super-conductors.

[h4rr4r]

No point?
If I turn off the AC and do as you suggest, draw in outside air the room would be up to 110F in a couple hours. Sealed if the the HVAC fails the temp alarms set at 95F go off in 30 minutes.

The low temp in the room gives us time to get the HVAC units fixed if it comes to that.

Re:Green Institutions

[jbengt]

I didnt present 'hippy crap'. I submitted a spreadsheet that laid out the power consumption numbers, cost of equipment, licensing etc. It was pretty comprehensive.

I don't think you understand that 'hippy crap'. I've worked on construction projects where the "hippy 'green', 'progressive' shit 'language'," as you say, was important. Green design effort includes the sorts of things you put in your "pretty comprehensive" spreadsheet, but also includes the impacts of various possible combinations of walls, roof, glass, lighting, energy sources, HVAC system types, plumbing equipment, etc. It includes 365-day simulations of hourly energy costs using hourly data on weather, solar, internal loads, energy rates, etc. for different systems, usually including a base of minimum code requirements vs a few other possibilities. The "hippy, green language includes comparisons of capital costs and operating expenses, often on a present value basis. You may be surprised, however, how many owners are just as interested in "going green" as in the "bottom line" costs of the project. To me, that shows that there is currently a perceptible value in going green that should not be ignored.