Detailing powerful methods for reducing the energy costs associated with operating a data center, Making Your Data Center Energy Efficient examines both equipment and building facilities. It reviews the rationale for conserving energy and demonstrates how conservation and careful equipment selection can lead to significant improvements to your bottom line. For those not well-versed in financial or energy terms, the first two chapters provide a detailed discussion of the terms associated with different types of energy, as well as how to compute the return on investment for energy conservation efforts.
The text includes tables of monthly expenses associated with operating equipment that will help you convert problems into simple table lookup processes. Among the money-saving topics discussed, it considers:
- How to minimize the energy consumption of a wide range of devices
- A little-understood topic that can make a big impact on energy costs—general heating and cooling
- Techniques required to effectively monitor different types of meters
- Phantom energy usage and methods for minimizing its cost to your organization
Recognizing that most readers may not have direct control over the selection of a furnace or hot water heater, the book provides you with the ability to recognize the efficiencies and inefficiencies of various types of devices, so you can provide input into the decision-making process. From replacing lighting to consolidation and virtualization, it provides you with the well-rounded understanding needed to properly manage all aspects of the energy consumed in your data center.
Rationale for Energy Conservation and Its Financial Implications
The Cost of Energy
Energy and Power
Units of Power
BTUs and Horsepower
Comparing Energy
Oil, Gas, and Electric Costs
The Cost of Oil
The Cost of Natural Gas
The Cost of Electricity
Financial Metrics
The Return on Investment (ROI)
ROI Analysis
What Is Time Value?
Future Value Basics
Future Value Interest Factors
Present Value Basics
Annuities
Payment Frequency
Types of Annuities
Determining the Future Value of an Ordinary Annuity
Present Value of an Annuity
Considering Monthly Cash Flows
Annuity Due
Annuity Notations
Payback Period
Discounted Cash Flow
Weighted Average Cost of Capital
Internal Rate of Return
Computing the IRR
Using Excel
NPV Functions in Excel
ROI Functions in Excel
IRR Summary
Summary
Understanding Electrical Terms
Atoms and Electrons
Electric Generators
Turbines
Circuit Measurements
Circuits
Electrical Power
Direct Current versus Alternating Current
Direct Current (DC)
The Power Supply
Power Supply Types
Operation
Phase
Power Rating
Meters to Consider
AC Measurements to Consider
RMS
Power Factor (PF)
Importance of the Power Factor
Ground
Electricity Distribution
The Power Plant
Transformers
Types of Transformers
Transformer Wiring
Service Methods
Single Phase versus Three Phase
The Service Panel
Types of Service Panels
Operation
Inside the Service Panel
Building Service Panel
Circuits
Types of Circuits
Individual Circuits
Plugs and Sockets
Office Plugs and Sockets
UPS
Standby Generators
Selecting a Generator
General Heating and Cooling Considerations
Climate Control Systems
Ventilation
Heating Systems
Forced-Air Systems
Boilers
Rating/Capacity
Radiant Heating Systems
Heat Pumps
SEER and HSPF Ratings
Types of Heat Pumps
Hybrid Heat Pump
Solar-Assisted Heat Pump
Dual Fuel Heat Pump
Air-Source Heat Pump
Geothermal Heat Pumps
Electric Resistance Heating
Types of Electric Resistance Heaters
Radiators
Steam Heating
Hot Water Radiators
Hot Water Heaters
Types of Water Heaters
Conventional Tank Storage Water Heaters
Tankless Water Heaters
Indirect Water Heaters
Cooling Systems
Central Air Conditioners
Types of Central Air Conditioners
Sizing
Cost Comparison
Other Features to Consider
Heat Pump Cooling
Chillers
Use in Air-Conditioning
Types of Chillers
Classification
Factors to Consider
Rapid Restart Capability
Operating Multiple Chillers
Checking the Refrigerant Line
Optimize Cooling during Cold Weather
Examine Ductworks
Examining Air Filters
Heating and Cooling Items to Consider
Considering the Long Term
Reading and Understanding Your Electric, Gas, and Water Meters
Electric Meter Categories
Examining the Electric Meter
Reading an Electric Meter
Load Meters
Recording Data
Operation
Digital "Smart" Meters
Smart Meters and the Smart Grid
Reading the Smart Meter Display
Smart Meter Problems
Standards
Possible Causes of Billing Inaccuracies
Why Rates Matter
The Natural Gas Meter
Types of Gas Meters
Meter Reading
Estimating the Monthly Gas Bill
The Water Meter
Locate Your Meter
Water Bills
Abnormalities in the Water Bill
Smart Water Meters
Data Center Equipment Energy Consumption
Operational Modes to Consider
Power Loads
Commonsense Items to Consider
Obtain Smart Power Strips
Check Cell Phone Charger Ratings
Unplug Rarely Used Devices
Ensure Monitors Are Turned Off When Not Used
Turn Off or Place Computers in a Standby Mode
Favor Energy Star Equipment
General Cost Computations
Device Consumption
Varying the Cost per kWh
Servers
Computer Memory
Rack Pack Considerations
Communications Equipment
Cisco 3750 Series
Cisco StackPower and EnergyWise Technology
Other Techniques to Reduce Energy Consumption
Fan Speed Considerations
Rack Placement and Cooling Considerations
Available Calculators
Minimizing Computer Energy Consumption
Sleep Mode Considerations
Power Options
Accessing Power Options
Editing a Power Plan
CPU States
Advanced Settings
Processor Power Management
Display
Multimedia Settings
Computer Power Efficiency
Accessing the Command Prompt
Examining an Energy Report
Wake-on-LAN
Enabling Wake-on-LAN in Windows
Wake-on-LAN Capabilities
Limitations
Wireless Network Use
Delivery Confirmation
Security Issues
Specific Computer Linkage
Making Your Data Center Energy Efficient
Techniques to Consider
Finding Energy Loss
Replacing Monitors
Waiting Area Display
Upgrading the Operating System
Purchase Energy Star Compliant Products
Consolidation and Virtualization
Telework
Consider Cloud Computing
Consider Desktop and Server Power Management
Products
Consider Processor Efficiency
Consider Data Storage Consolidation
Examine IT Hardware Utilization
Consider Higher Voltage Power Distribution
Utilize Wireless Humidity and Temperature
Transmitters
Minimize Phantom Energy Loss
Use Energy-Efficient Motors
Examine Airflow
Reduce Air Handler Operations When Not Necessary
Controlling the Power Factor
Use Caulking and Weather-Stripping to Block
Air Leaks
Consider a Chargeback Policy That Includes Energy Cost
Consider Increases in Electricity Cost
Water Considerations
Examine Water Heater Settings
Examine Water Usage
Replacing Lighting
Lumens
Watts as a Measurement Tool
Lumens per Watt and Lux
Determining Watt Dissipation
Luminous Energy
Illuminance
Lighting Efficiency
Color Temperature
Representative Lighting Color Temperature
Comparing Lighting
Building Management Areas to Consider
Consider Adding Insulation
How Insulation Works
Types of Insulation
Rating Insulation
Changing the Building Roof Color
Use Reusable Filters
Consider Electric Vehicles
Index
Biography
Gilbert Held is currently with 4 Degrees Consulting.
