APR 13

Bravo! We are going to look back on our inefficient, high carbon ways and say "What on Earth were we doing???" Even with cheap oil this wasn't living in concert with nature. Glad to see some signs of intelligent life on Earth!

Such a simple solution, it really is a wonder we don't already do this. They can't just knock down walls and let the cool breeze in, all the dust and other contaminants would reck havoc on the server farm, but setting up a filtration pipe system should be cheap enough.

Seems very hard to believe that those who design sophisticated AC systems wouldn't have already thought to send the hot exhaust air to the outside during cooler months and bring in outside cool air to the AC/filter system to save on the cooling bill.

Could it be that the challenge of filtering and dehumidifying fresh air becomes a much bigger problem than the extra cost of using recirculated air?

The green Grid is on a good track.

Having said that, there's a lot to be done at home, by way of not just improving, but transforming and sometimes it's just a matter of awareness.

For example- It's very often possible now to get one’s home off the power grid entirely. I think the more this becomes known, the more common it will become. I’m currently in an apartment because my wife works close by where we live, but once we move out west in a couple years, it’s my plan to have the house producing it’s own energy.

Wouldn’t it be cool to get more than half the homes out there doing that? Eventually it would reach a “tipping” point where others sucking energy from power companies would feel like they are losing out- and losing energy money. And they would be. gethomemadeenergy.org

Sorry folks. You should locate these server farms in Canada where the average temperature is much colder than, say, California. The "waste" heat from these servers can be used to heat our buildings vs. natural gas.

Could data centers be cooler if built below ground level?

This is a well known concept known as economizing. Any mechanical engineer worth their weight in sand knows about it and is likely using it. Enthalpy economizers are even better.

Why do you think Iceland is actively seeking to get data centers to relocate there? Pollution-free and abundant electricity and free cooling.

Do computers really need to be cooled? If they do, then it surely is because they are inneficiently using their power.

Would it not be possible to collect the waste heat from computers and sell it to people who need the heat - like fast food manufacturers and cold people?

Wish I could do something similar with my fridge...use outdoor air in the cold months (filtered and piped right into the fridge) and exhaust the hot air from the condenser outside in the summer. And oven and dryer and...and

Like Eric said above, this strategy has been around longer than data centers have been. And there are countless other more appropriate means of free cooling for datacenters. The main problem is the owner/operator that doesnt understand these strategies and doesnt want them on their site cause they would lose countless millions of dollars per hour if they ever went down, blah blah blah.

This isn't news, this is rediculous.

If you want some REAL alternative/sustainable 'news' here you go.

Simply using a small and relatively inexpensive and scaleable system leveraging the off-peak and/or off-grid (i.e. a pv array) power to charge a compressed-air based UPS system would save this data center twenty times that paltry 5,000 kWh a year this 'story' is based on.

Since when is not being stupid and running a massive air conditioner when it's already cold out some sort of news ?

Let me tell you, what is real news is having an almost instant-on on-demand uniterruptable power source that also supplies a proportional amount of concurrent cooling, reducing demand by shifting loads to cooler evenings and off-peak hours. Now THAT'S ingenious and awesome and a real solution. Oh, and did I mention the unit is small enough to fit in a closet, and capacity is extremely scaleable ?

It’s time to get serious about the environmental impact of data centers. A recent study from McKinsey & Company predicts that by 2020, the world’s data centers could surpass the airline industry as a greenhouse gas polluter. Isn’t that incredible? Businesses are coming around, though. They’re realizing that by greening their data centers they can save energy –and money.

They just figured this out? I once asked a consultant who deals in data center energy efficiency why they didn't move the centers to South Dakota or some place like that - nine months of free A/C. He looked at me like, "Wow, I've never thought of that. What is South Dakota?" These data farms need to get out of California and into the upper midwest.

Further, I like the fact that the Freedom Tower in New York will be cooled by the Hudson. Although some Environmentalists (not including myself) had their doubts (with the possibility of sealife becoming stuck in grills, etc), this is the most sensible way of using a free resource in place of carbon intensive, expensive and unhealthy Air Conditioning systems. Pumps would still have to operate, though.
Anthony
Japanese Knotweed Eradication

http://www.energystar.gov/inde...nsonbraund

What I meant to add to the above post is that my firm received a National EnergyStar Award for our work integrating a cost-effective system of capturing and reusing small business server heat, while being able to shut off dedicated AC systems. Several of our clients are now integrating similar systems into their businesses (bank branches)

Can you point me to where I can find such a unit?

It's sad that it takes so long to come up w/ something like this when if you just think about it this was so obvious. There are SO many other obvious ones too. Unfortunately I don't have the financial means to pursue them plus I do NOT trust people so I am stuck waiting for my ideas to come out & see the light. Unless someone knows otherwise.

This technology has definitely been around a long time and has been used in all types of buildings. The savings are significant, but not as simple as what's been written here.

Yes, climates with colder average air temperatures help save energy in the cooling of buildings. But, that doesn't mean bringing data centers to northern areas is entirely the best solution. Any room within a building that has some sort of human occupancy, like data centers, cannot run supply air into rooms at temperatures below standardized comfort levels. People begin to feel cold currents and drafts and are therefore uncomfortable, and building codes do not accept this. Therefore, only an outdoor temperature of approx. 54degF would be ideal for the cooling of buildings, as per building codes. Colder air would need to be heated before cooling the building.

Furthermore, it should be mentioned that outdoor air needs to be of the right humidity before circulating through the building. This is rarely the levels found outdoors, therefore other heating and cooling of outdoor air is required for this consideration, which is also laid out in building codes.

With respect to one of the comments above, we can save more energy on the heating and cooling of outdoor air by using what's called an HRV - Heat Recovery Ventilator. It is generally used to take heat from exhausted air and adds it to incoming outdoor air.

All in all, the use of outdoor air is a good and proven idea, and the energy savings can likely increase within data centers. But it is good to know as much about the implications as possible.

i agree with tim it starts within the home