Commercial HVAC systems for data centers should be optimized to prevent the possibility of downtime.
In any commercial building, downtime can be harmful to your business. In data centers, downtime can be even more devastating. Commercial HVAC systems for data centers should be optimized to prevent the possibility of downtime. This optimization results from ensuring that the systems are as energy efficient as possible. Keeping a data center cool enough both day and night to ensure the integrity of the computer equipment within demands a vast amount of energy consumption. There are numerous causes of energy inefficiency, and they are all easy to prevent.
Sources Of Energy Inefficiency
When inspecting your data center for sources of energy inefficiency, consider how the air circulates near the computer equipment. Examine the rack layouts for all of the equipment. They provide storage for the servers. As the equipment in a data center operates, they’ll generate hot air, and this hot air needs to be kept away from fresh cool air pumped into the room; when hot air and cold air meet, the overall temperature of the space will increase.
Another potential source of energy inefficiency comes from HVAC cycling. Cycling results from the commercial HVAC systems being switched off and then switched on again. Sometimes, property managers will decide to turn the systems off at night, since no one is in the building. Without the commercial HVAC system bringing new, cooler air into the room to replace the old, warmer air, the temperature inside the building will reach unacceptable levels.
One last factor to consider when attempting to discover sources of energy inefficiency is room design. The design of any space leads to several pressing questions:
- How large is the room?
- Is the room’s size sufficient to allow proper ventilation?
- What materials were used in the building’s construction?
- Will heat be able to travel through the walls of the building?
- Where are the thermostats placed?
Answering these questions can go a long way towards addressing the sources of energy inefficiency in your data center.
Addressing The Sources
To minimize or eliminate the sources of energy inefficiency, you should follow this advice:
- Manage airflow: Release hot air through improved ventilation. Improved ventilation is less expensive and can prevent you having to add more cooling units unless it becomes necessary.
- Switch rack layouts: Change the way the rack layouts are arranged throughout the room. Your goal is to keep the hot air from mixing with the cold air.
- Add more cooling units: A computer room air conditioning unit, or CRAC, can support your existing commercial HVAC systems.
Crockett Facilities Can Help!
Crockett Facilities Services, Inc. (CFSI) is committed to helping building owners, property managers, engineers, and facility professionals lower their operating expenses through HVAC preventive maintenance. We can develop a cost-effective, customized preventive maintenance plan for your commercial building that will provide you with peace of mind, improved comfort, and energy savings.
To learn more about the importance of HVAC Preventive Maintenance, please contact us at 202.600.2787 or sales@crockett-facilities.com. Our PM contract customers receive priority service with 24/7 emergency service in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, DC.