As an editor, I love moderating the Webcasts we host on FacilitiesNet. 

Aside from having the chance to interact with some very knowledgeable industry consultants, it's also a great opportunity to take a pulse on where our readers stand on a particular topic. 

Last week's Webinar on green data centers was no different. One thing that quickly struck me about the questions from the audience was how foundational they were. 

Part of this illustrates a broader problem  — data centers are one of the most energy intense spaces to manage, but there aren't any firmly established metrics yet to use for managing a data center.

Consider that there is no Energy Star specification for servers. Likewise, the Energy Star Label for Buildings doesn't work for data centers. The U.S. Green Building Council is still working on developing LEED for data centers. Industry terms like PUE are still in the early stages of promulgation.

It was no wonder then that the questions stuck to the basics. One audience member asked, for example why it matters where you put a data center if they almost never use outside air. 

As our presenter correctly answered, the location of a data center has a tremendous impact on the efficiency of the cooling plant. And since many data centers aren't the most airtight, air leakage plays a role in energy use too, he said.

So for those who didn't attend the Webinar last week (you can watch the session for free) what kind of things would you like to know about when it comes to making your data center greener?

Add a Comment