DATA CENTER DESIGN EVOLUTION | SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS | THOUGHT LEADERSHIP | GREEN DATA CENTER DESIGN
GREEN DATA CENTER DESIGN
Today one of the primary drivers for our design team is the push for systems that save energy and are measured with The Green Grid's Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) metric. PUE measures the percentage of power consumed by the data center that actually powers computer processors. The Department of Energy estimates that the average data center in the U.S. operates at a PUE over 3.0; this means that two-thirds of the power being consumed is not adding to productivity.
Our focus is to eliminate waste, and through the prudent use of existing and innovative technologies, design a data center that reduces the PUE to a more reasonable range of 1.5 or lower. Key design directions include utilizing new, free cooling techniques, specifying efficient equipment, bringing cooling closer to the source of the heat, raising the set point in the data center and right-sizing MEP systems, which operate more efficiently at full load.
In addition to our focus on PUE, we are committed to the sustainable design principles inherent in LEED criteria. Approximately two-thirds of our design professionals are LEED-accredited. Our team has designed seven LEED-certified buildings, with several more pending certification.