Free Workshops Help Data Centers Slash Energy Use

Following five sessions held last year in collaboration with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), ASHRAE will offer two free workshops focused on thermal guidelines for data processing, datacom facility energy efficiency, high density data centers, and contamination in datacom environments to those who work with data centers in New York.

“Because of the importance of reducing New York State’s energy use and the opportunities for savings that can be achieved through improved datacom center design and operation, NYSERDA and ASHRAE are funding these seminars,” says Roger Schmidt, an instructor at an earlier workshop.

The 2008 series of workshops had more than 700 attendees participating; the upcoming free workshops will expand upon the earlier seminars with 25 percent new material added. It is estimated that the presentation of best practices information and the implementation of guidance could result in a savings of at least $25 million for New York data centers over the next 5 years, with a 75-percent reduction in data energy use experienced in some data centers.

The workshop instructors are data center authorities, who are active in ASHRAE Technical Committee 9.9, Mission Critical Facilities, Technology Spaces, and Electronic Equipment. Attendees will receive four free ASHRAE design manuals: Thermal Guidelines for Data Processing Environments (second edition), Best Practices for Datacom Facility Energy Efficiency (second edition), High-Density Data Centers – Case Studies and Best Practices, and Particulate and Gaseous Contamination in Datacom Environments.

The first of the workshops will take place at the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering at the University at Albany – SUNY on Sept. 29. It will be repeated at Con Edison Auditorium in New York City on Nov. 6. To register, visit www.ashrae.org/datacenter.