Workload-driven energy consumption is prompting operators to consider more sustainable procedures – in terms of both environmental and longevity .

Tim Hysell , CEO and Co-founder , ZincFive , highlights three crucial concepts to ensure power savings and increase the likelihood of greener profitability . ata centres have long been known as

While data centre operators are implementing aggressive actions like efficiency-focused retrofits to help curb energy usage , future-focused data centres must be able to support the increasing demand for more data , faster service , AI , cloud solutions and more while minimising their physical footprint . The larger a data centre ’ s footprint , the more expensive it is to build it , maintain it and manage its environmental impact .

The rising demand vs cost management challenge

With this demand increase comes many caveats . Today , data centres are grappling with various obstacles , potentially impacting their ability to operate reliably , manage costs and demonstrate resilience when it matters most . Several factors affecting these data hubs include :

• Limited access to power in several locations

• Rising energy prices due to increased energy consumption

• Increased pressure from investors , customers and regulatory bodies to reduce carbon emissions

• The rise in frequency and severity of power outages

Data centres must meet rising compute power demands while practicing operational efficiency and sustainability to aid ambitious clean energy usage targets , drive down costs , tackle corporate responsibility and improve disaster resilience .

Here are three ways data centres can save money and prepare themselves for workload-driven energy consumption in 2024 :

Do more with less space

The more power an operator can fit into a smaller real estate footprint , the lower real estate costs are relative to the revenue generated . Data centres typically categorise space into two categories : ‘ white space ,’ indicating areas with equipment that increases capacity and so directly makes a profit , and ‘ grey space ,’ back-end support systems that do not directly generate profit – for instance , generators and Uninterruptible Power Supply ( UPS ) systems .

Minimising grey space with smaller , power-dense equipment allows operators to maximise the profit-driving white space . Profitable upgrades include replacing older , less efficient infrastructure equipment with newer , more efficient technologies . While the initial investment may seem high , upgrading to more efficient equipment will ultimately lower long-term costs .

Upgrading the UPS battery system is a great place to start . Choosing a UPS battery with a higher power density reduces the grey space required , because fewer battery cabinets are needed to meet the data centre ’ s power demand . Look for a battery cabinet with the smallest linear footprint per watt so you can pack more power in less space and free up room for additional servers – or even a smaller overall facility . Non-

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