EDITOR’S QUESTION
However, it’s
important to
highlight that
without a software or
monitoring solution in
place, it’s near impossible
for businesses to find out
what strain the current IT
load is putting on the existing
infrastructure, or indeed what
their energy usage might be.
MARC GARNER,
VP, SECURE
POWER DIVISION,
SCHNEIDER
ELECTRIC UK AND
IRELAND
hen seeking to become
more eco-friendly,
there are a number of
key areas that today’s
data centre owners and
operators must consider.
These include the design of the facility,
its power source, choice of UPS and
cooling solution, and use of management
software, which is an essential piece of
the puzzle.
W
Cloud-based DCIM software
Data centre management software allows
for better visibility into power, cooling
and IT loads, while enabling greater
levels of automation to take place within
today’s facilities.
32
Issue 06
If an organisation already utilises a
cloud-based data centre infrastructure
management (DCIM) solution – like
Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure IT, which
offers greater levels of visibility and insight
than older legacy platforms – the user can
make real-time, data-driven decisions that
could significantly lower cost. In many
cases using Artificial Intelligence (AI) and
Machine Learning (ML) to predict and
anticipate changes within the facility.
Data centre design
Another consideration is that of the IT
requirement and data centre design. Does
the capacity utilisation meet the demands
currently placed upon it by the business and
should more be needed, is there room to
scale both cost-effectively and efficiently?
If the answer is no and the organisation
needs to add capacity quickly,
prefabricated power, cooling and IT
modules present an option for predictable,
efficient and rapid deployment; allowing
the user to specify exactly what’s
required, rather than over provisioning the
data centre.
Cooling configuration
Other than the IT load, the cooling solution
will often account for a high proportion of
energy use. Therefore, should an option
OTHER THAN
THE IT LOAD,
THE COOLING
SOLUTION
WILL OFTEN
ACCOUNT
FOR A HIGH
PROPORTION
OF ENERGY
USE.
for free cooling be available, a company
may choose to utilise this to become
more eco-friendly. If a different approach
is required, they might consider hot-aisle
containment, InRow or liquid cooling
based on the greatest opportunity for
a lower PUE and better ROI in terms of
reduced energy costs.
Power and UPS
When choosing the power requirement,
another consideration may be the desired
CSR or sustainability objectives. A good
example may be the company’s choice to
utilise only renewable energy sources.
When it comes to power, a UPS is of
course an absolute necessity and should
a company be looking to take advantage
of the latest technological advancements,
they may opt for Lithium-ion (Li-Ion)
batteries over valve-regulated lead-acid
(VRLA) cells.
Research from Schneider Electric’s Data
Centre Science Centre found that over a
10-year period, Li-ion delivered a lower TCO
that was between 10% and 40% less than
an equivalent UPS system based on VRLA.
From a sustainability perspective, Li-ion
batteries do not contain hazardous
chemical materials and are increasingly
easier to recycle, as waste-management
operators become more familiar with the
specific procedures needed to handle
large format systems. ◊
www.intelligentdatacentres.com