Green Technology


May 14, 2008

Green Technology -Measure, Manage, Monitor, Maintain � 4Ms to Every Datacenter Manager

By Calvin Azuri

A guide that discusses technologies, strategies and gives answers to IT Managers on how to react to EPA Recommendations for Datacenter Power Efficiency has been brought out by AFCO Systems.

AFCO has the world’s largest support system of air-cooled, high density and extreme high-density server and network cabinets. This enhanced airflow management technology is in accordance with ASHRAE standards.

Titled ‘Deciphering the EPA Report on Datacenter Energy Efficiency’, this new guide from Green Datacenter Resource Management Leader helps datacenter managers better understand the lengthy EPA Report to Congress on Server and Data Center Energy Efficiency.

The EPA in their report to Congress sometime last summer rightly brought to light the excessive use of energy by datacenters. But they also attempted to come up with solutions on how to use this energy efficiently, sparingly and consciously. The guide gives them greater insight into ways that boost the utilization of their existing power and cooling infrastructures.

Michael Mallia, CEO, AFCO Systems says, “The EPA's report points out the dramatic effect the growing usage of datacenters will have on US energy consumption if left unchecked. Through our analysis and recommendations, we hope to help customers make their datacenters more energy efficient”.

The experts at AFCO have come up with the ‘Four Ms for Datacenter Energy Efficiency’ to help datacenter managers manage power efficiently. Understanding the mechanisms of these different components will help ensure greater control.

Measure: For increased efficiency, the supply, server inlet and return must all be measured. Airflow must be measured along with power consumption and air temperature. A lot of cooling is wasted, which is not measured otherwise.

Manage: Airflow management is a key factor in datacenter efficiency. The flow of supply air should be managed as closely as possible to the computer inlet. Equipment such as variable speed fans at the air-handler or at the rack level, and high-efficiency chilled water pumps help you maintain airflow at the cabinet level.

Monitor: Cabinet level is no longer an option; it is a mandate, especially with loads approaching 15-20 kW per cabinet. This process makes easy managing of the datacenter against ‘downing’ events easy.

Maintain: Use of the most successful ‘best practices’ is the best way to keep the datacenter environment efficient and in tune with technology turnover. Systems should be sized and redundancies configured to maximize efficiency, while air-handler systems should be rebalanced.  

AFCO Systems is headquartered in Farmingdale, NY; AFCO Systems has operations in North America, Ireland, London, Singapore and Tokyo. They design and manufacture advanced enclosure technology for mission-critical datacenter environments.

Calvin Azuri, TMCnet Contributing Journalist.

Don’t forget to check out TMCnet’s White Paper Library, which provides a selection of in-depth information on relevant topics affecting the IP Communications industry. The library offers white papers, case studies and other documents which are free to registered users. Today’s featured white paper is Interactive Voice Response (IVR) Consolidation Strategies, brought to you by HP Software.
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