Enhancing the Efficiency of Data Centers
Adopting Sustainable Approaches
Conversations with clients frequently revolve around enhancing data center efficiency. Prioritizing energy-efficient data centers is not just about cutting energy expenses; it also aims at minimizing waste, boosting reliability, and cost reduction. To enhance data center efficiency, consider the following approaches:
Data Center Infrastructure Management: Real-Time Transparency
Data Center Infrastructure Management (DCIM) should be considered a continuous process rather than a singular tool or target. For data centers to prosper, they need the capability to supervise, control, and evaluate their assets with an integrated, real-time solution.
Creating a collaborative environment for facilities management and IT staff is critical. Implementing DCIM software allows administrators to track energy sensors, supporting hardware, and analyze power usage effectiveness (PUE) and cooling system efficiency. DCIM software ensures your data center operates at optimal performance levels.
DCIM can further elevate virtualization by allowing you to optimize the utilization of power, cooling, and space, making your data center significantly more energy-efficient.
Reducing Cooling Costs with Economizers
Improving data center efficiency involves not just process development and tool implementation but also selecting appropriate technologies. Cooling, constituting nearly 40% of energy use in data centers, is a prime area for energy and cost reduction. Modern thermal management equipment offers substantial savings by utilizing economizers for reduced cooling costs.
Economizer systems employ external air, water, or pumped refrigerant to minimize or eliminate the need for mechanical cooling. These systems can achieve up to 50% energy savings compared to traditional systems. Direct economizers introduce outside air into the data center, while indirect economizers expel heat outside the facility.
Types of Indirect Economizers
- Pumped refrigerant systems
- Air-to-air heat exchangers
- Dry coolers on chilled water systems
The Liebert DSE Free Cooling System utilizes a direct-expansion (DX) system featuring an integrated pumped refrigerant economizer, maximizing annual energy savings and ensuring high availability without separate economization coils. When outdoor temperatures are sufficiently low, the refrigerant pump circulates refrigerant instead of the compressor, maintaining the desired air temperature while consuming significantly less energy. This simplifies installation and reduces the total cost of ownership for pumped refrigerant systems.
Innovative Data Center Design
Eco-friendly data center design aligns with IT objectives for speed, availability, and efficiency. With technology advancing rapidly, flexibility in data center deployment—whether in containers, modular setups, or regional micro data centers—is essential.
Modular data centers are pre-fabricated units deployed much faster than traditional facilities, incorporating all necessary IT, power, cooling, fire protection, and access control features.
In branch offices, containers, or small IT environments, high availability, efficient operation, and quick setup are crucial for critical applications. An appealing solution for small, modular data centers is an integrated system like Vertiv’s SmartRow, which combines all essential components in one package. The SmartRow system reduces energy consumption by up to 27% compared to traditional data center designs.
Data center efficiency initiatives vary widely. As your local Vertiv partner, we provide data center assessments, acclaimed products, and expertise to save your business time and money. Contact us today to begin.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How can DCIM contribute to data center efficiency?
DCIM aids data center efficiency by facilitating real-time monitoring and management of resources, allowing for optimal performance and reduced energy consumption. - What role do economizers play in enhancing data center efficiency?
Economizers play a crucial role in reducing cooling costs, significantly decreasing the energy consumption of data centers by using external air, water, or refrigerants. - What are the advantages of modular data center designs?
Modular data centers offer rapid deployment, flexibility, and reduced energy usage, fitting seamlessly into the evolving demands of modern IT environments.