GREEN MATTERS
working with 80-100kW per rack for example. PUE has been a long-standing metric for measuring data centres’ effi ciency. For high density data centres sustainability is high on their agenda. PUE is not a holistic measure though as it does not address the overall picture of energy effi ciency. PUE is measured by calculating UPS systems, air conditioning, chillers, CRAC and CRAH units, servers, and other network equipment, it does not consider what servers are idle and their duration. Data Centre Information Management (DCIM) systems can provide valuable real-time information. More meaningful measures are required that can help
improve the overall effi ciency of data centres. A system level approach looking at IT loads and how their energy consumption can be reduced can signifi cantly improve overall effi ciencies.
The HVAC industry is playing a pivotal role by moving towards more renewable energy sources, smarter technologies, energy effi cient designs and embracing embodied carbon initiatives.
Transitioning to a greener infrastructure requires solutions that go further than traditional thinking to rise to the sustainability challenge.
AI will have a notable impact. It could help data centres implement greater energy saving initiatives, through analysis and by monitoring energy usage in real time, thus identifying operational ineffi ciencies and improve overall performance. Whereas it is anticipated that Generative AI will double or
to decrease energy consumption. Other steps such as reducing the speed of electric motors in cooling systems can save energy and reduce emissions. Many data centre cooling systems are over specifi ed and designed for peak loads under conditions such as the hottest day of the year which do not occur all year round. Variable speed drives (VSDs) used to address partial loads can save 20%-60% energy in cooling processes. EC fans are far more effi cient than AC fans. Some data centre providers are moving away from air- based cooling systems. They are investing in on-chip cooling technologies to meet the demands for higher rack densities, increasing effi ciency and reducing whitespace m². Using air cooling technologies with high density racks raises issues about energy consumption particularly when
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even triple energy consumption in data centres – all options to improve energy consumption and minimise waste need to be considered - rejected heat is already being regarded as energy that can be used to heat homes and offi ces. Cooling plays a critical role in a data centre and is estimated to account for up to 40% of their energy consumption. As demand for services such as streaming and blockchain increase so does the cooling requirements. Emerging trends such as immersion cooling and direct chip cooling are likely to increase, off ering enhanced thermal management and greater effi ciencies. Immersion cooling can reduce carbon emissions by up to 45% compared to more traditional cooling solutions. Direct chip cooling involves integrating the chip directly onto the heat exchanger and allowing the coolant to pass in close proximity removing the heat at its source. The HVAC industry is undergoing a rapid transformation in the drive to deliver carbon negative cooling strategies. Customers are more environmentally aware and climate change ever more compelling. Companies that can display an authentic commitment to sustainability will hold the competitive edge.
www.acr-news.com • June 2024 21
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