Green Data Centers: Achieving Data Center Energy Efficiency In Your Colocation Facility

While the adoption of modern technology has made businesses much more efficient, it has also brought its own set of challenges. In particular, maximizing data center energy efficiency has become a very pressing concern. This is mostly for sustainability reasons but also for cost reasons. Here is a quick guide to what you need to know.

Understanding the use of energy in data centers

Energy, specifically electricity, is core to data center operations. It not only powers the equipment itself but also the infrastructure needed for it to operate. Moreover, it is needed for the data center facility itself to operate. For example, it is needed to keep automated security tools running and to ensure that human staff have light by which to work.

As the use of data centers has grown, so their use of energy has increased. Only part of this increase is, however, directly attributable to the increased use of resources. Some of it is the result of working practices in data centers.

For example, data centers typically pack equipment as densely as they can. This makes the most efficient use of space but it also causes more heat to be generated in a small space. It therefore places more demands on cooling and, hence, the energy to power it.

Additionally, many data centers have fluctuating workloads. This can lead to inefficient resource utilization and energy wastage during periods of low demand.

Strategies for improving data center energy efficiency

Here are 10 specific strategies that can be used to improve data center energy efficiency. Some of them are very affordable to implement. Some can be implemented in stages. All can make a meaningful difference to data center energy efficiency.

Optimize HVAC systems: Fine-tuning heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems through the use of variable-speed fans, economizers, and optimized airflow patterns enhances cooling efficiency and reduces energy consumption.

Adopt energy-efficient lighting solutions: Switching to LED lighting fixtures with motion sensors and daylight harvesting capabilities minimizes energy wastage by ensuring lights are only active when needed.

Implement data center infrastructure management (DCIM) solutions: DCIM software provides real-time monitoring and management of data center infrastructure, enabling administrators to identify and rectify energy inefficiencies promptly.

Employ dynamic power management: Dynamic power management techniques adjust the power states of hardware components based on workload demands, optimizing energy usage without compromising performance.

Deploy virtualization and consolidation strategies: By consolidating multiple virtual servers onto fewer physical machines, virtualization reduces the overall energy footprint of the data center while improving resource utilization.

Upgrade to energy-efficient hardware: Transitioning to energy-efficient servers, storage devices, and networking equipment reduces power consumption per unit of computing capacity. Over time, this can significantly improve energy efficiency.

Invest in liquid cooling technologies: Immersion cooling and direct-to-chip liquid cooling solutions dissipate heat more efficiently than traditional air-cooling methods, reducing cooling-related energy consumption and enhancing overall data center energy efficiency.

Implement hot aisle/cold aisle containment: By segregating hot and cold airflow pathways within the data center, containment systems prevent the mixing of air streams, reducing energy consumption by optimizing cooling efficiency.

Leverage environmental cooling techniques: Using air or water cooling during favorable environmental conditions reduces the need for mechanical refrigeration and, hence, energy.

Optimize UPS efficiency: Upgrading to high-efficiency Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) systems minimizes energy losses during power conversion. It therefore improves overall energy efficiency without directly altering energy sources.

The importance of renewable energy

Using renewable energy does not directly improve data center energy efficiency. It does, however, still improve sustainability by reducing a data center’s carbon footprint. It can also help to reduce running costs.

There are basically two ways data centers can increase their use of renewable energy. One is by purchasing as much electricity as possible from providers who use renewable sources. The other is by generating renewable energy on-site for example by implementing solar panels and/or wind turbines.

Overcoming barriers to improving data center energy efficiency

In reality, there is only really one barrier to improving data center energy efficiency and that is the upfront cost. All other barriers to improving data center energy efficiency ultimately derive from this.

There are three key strategies that can be employed to help overcome this barrier. Firstly, you can value the benefits of making data center energy efficiency improvements. This valuation should include intangible benefits such as improving your brand image as well as tangible ones such as money saving.

Secondly, you should value the cost and risk of not implementing data center energy improvements. For example, the more energy you use, the more exposed you are to increases in energy prices.

Thirdly, you can look for ways to integrate data center energy efficiency improvements with changes you have to make anyway (e.g. hardware upgrades). This will often minimize both direct additional costs and the costs associated with the disruption that change often causes.