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Elizabeth Cutright Elizabeth Cutright Distributed Energy Editor

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DE Editor's Blog

May 19th, 2009 7:10am PST

Stars on the Horizon

Posted By Elizabeth Cutright 1 Comment

Last month, I touched upon the effect of President Obama’s cap-and-trade energy plan on data centers (“Behavior Modification: www.distributedenergy.com/blogs/de-editors-blog/behavior-modification-53331.aspx). In that blog, I suggested that in order to survive under a new national energy policy that calls for accountability and quantifiable results, data centers would be wise to focus on energy efficiency, and how onsite power can mitigate the cost of acquiring energy from a centralized supply (like the grid).

Although onsite power (especially when tied to renewable and/or demand/response systems) is one way to streamline energy usage, using equipment that is fine-tuned for its purpose can also positively impact large, energy-intensive enterprises. Along this line, the EPA recently introduced a Tier 1 Energy Star rating for low-end enterprise servers. Presently, the EPA estimates that about 25% of servers under Tier 1 will qualify for an Energy Star endorsement, and many in the industry hope the EPA standards will eventually evolve into a Tier 2 rating for larger systems.

Data centers account for almost 2% of all US energy consumption, which—according to a 2006 report by the EPA—translates into  61 billion kWh and  a total consumption cost of $4.5 billion per year. As technology evolves and equipment becomes more compact, data centers can pack more into a smaller space—increasing loads and power density. Coupled with higher electricity prices and pressure to conform to stricter environmental standards, many data center managers find themselves struggling to survive. 

Within that context, it’s easy to see that the EPA’s labeling program will help data center operators make informed choices when it comes to equipment—choices that can reduce consumption and costs while shrinking their collective carbon footprint.  

So what do you think? Is taking a program that has worked well for toasters and refrigerators the right approach to large-scale energy users? Will it make a difference if computer manufacturers can market their products as sanctioned “energy savers,” and what—if any—real impact these EPA guidelines will have on data center energy consumption and environmental mitigation?

 

What Do You Think?

Post a Comment

swb46

May 26th, 2009 12:23 AM PT

It sounds like your referring to CAPSTONE MICROTURBINES without saying it pointedly.

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