Http://rare-idc.herts.ac.uk Reduction And Re-use of Energy in Institutional Data Centres (RARE-IDC) Steve Bowes-Phipps, Data Centre Manager University

http://rare-idc.herts.ac.uk

Reduction And Re-use of Energy in Institutional Data Centres (RARE-IDC)Steve Bowes-Phipps, Data Centre Manager University of Hertfordshire

Data Centre Leaders Award Winner 2010

“Innovation in a Micro-Data Centre”

2011 Uptime Institute Green Enterprise IT AwardTM Winner

“Innovation in a Smaller Data Centre <1000 sq ft”

2010 Met with “Participant” status demonstrating compliance with the EU Code of Conduct for Data Centres

Reduction and Re-use of Energy in Institutional Data Centres (RARE-IDC)

Reduction And Re-use of Energy in Institutional Data Centres (RARE-IDC)

Winner of Green Gown Awards 2011

• Background• Approach• Constraints and Design• Results• Successful Outcomes• Learning• Completing the Green Gown App

• Q&A


Overview

Background to the RARE-IDC project

• Refurbishment of one of two main 75m2 Data Centres for the University

• Funding had already been allocated in order to overcome several legacy risks

• We share many issues with other Public Sector institutions

• Sector leader in environmental management – consistently ranked in the top ten of the People and Planet Green League

• Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC) funding brought new constraints and new objectives:

• “An exemplar of a Green Data Centre for the HE/FE Sector”

• “A model for other institutions to follow and learn from”

• “Meet the business need with capacity, resilience and economy for at least ten years”


• What were the benefits?

• National and international prestige and enhancing this University’s reputation for pioneering development.

• Lower energy bills – not just in the Data Centre itself

• Applying the techniques and technologies to other facilities across campus

• Increased green skills within UH

• Knowledge sharing with other institutions working on similar or mutually beneficial schemes

Background to the RARE-IDC project


• Mitigated the risks with the existing facility by moving into a temporary room• Bolstered our skills in best practices, cutting-edge sustainable technologies and

thought leadership on reducing the carbon impact of Data Centres• Opted for a tender process that included “Design and Build”.• Design & Build Contract

– “Open process”– Large No. Of responses, difficult to compare– I.T.T. must reflect the exact deliverables– Must be able to challenge the responses– Supplier has ownership of design– Fixed cost

• Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ) help to reduce No. of appropriate responses

• The Invitation to Tender (I.T.T) – Included Best Practices (EU Code of Conduct for Data Centres)– British & International Standards (TIA942)

Approach


Constraints


• Pillars• Riser• Capacity• Contamination from work

areas• Overhead bulkhead • Lack of under floor capacity

(only 250mm)• Legacy incorrect (and

dangerous) power cabling• Limited plant space• Restricted external build space• “Meet-Me” point for all network

cabling• No external walls

New Data Centre Design


Energy Consumed Per Hour Before: After:

Total IT Load 120kW 120kW

Total Facility Load 264kW 146kW

Electricity used per Year 2,312,640KWh 1,282,464kWh

Annual Carbon Footprint 1,394 Tons 773 Tons

Reduction in CO2 Emissions Equivalent to

1 Year 621 Tons 117 Fewer Cars

5 Years 3,106 Tons 586 Fewer Cars

10 Years 6,212 Tons 1,172 Fewer Cars

Results


Breakdown of Original Energy Requirements

Cooling System42%

Electrical13%

IT Load44%

Before Data Centre Energy Usage• PUE Approximated at 2.2

• IT Load at 45%

• Cooling System taking up 42% of total Power

• Electrical usage significant at 13%


Breakdown of UH Data Centre Energy Requirements

• PUE Now down to 1.19L2,MD – 1.33L2,MD Target = 1.22Actual = 1.26L2,MD

• IT Load increased from 45% to 80%

• Cooling usage decreased from 42% to 19%

• Electrical usage decreasedfrom 13% to 1% (UPS losses and lighting,

etc.)

Cooling System19%

Elec-trical1%

IT Load80%

After Data Centre Energy Usage


• Capability of project to act as an exemplar to the wider market in relation to the issues of the smaller centre Refurbishment not new Build

Re-use of some Equipment

“Free Air” Cooling for 86% of the year (based on local weather conditions)

Increase in capacity of 69% & a 55% reduction in the carbon footprint of the Data Centre

Operational cost savings of £186,000 per annum (inc Carbon cost £12/Tonne CO2)

Using a contained Hot Aisle configuration, waste heat is recycled into the building’s hot water supply

Our pathfinder project enables others to follow our success and apply the lessons we’ve learned along the way

The first University in Europe to achieve compliance against the EU Code of Conduct for Data Centres

Working with JISC to further EC-wide knowledge-sharing through the e-infranet project

Successful Outcomes


• Size doesn’t matter!– Treat the project the same as any other– Learn from others – EU Code of Conduct for Data Centres (http://bit.ly/h4FA7)

• Realising that not all DC providers are the same– Involve your provider as partner– Don’t be afraid to challenge

• Cultural changes that breed success– Work closely with Estates– Embedding sustainable processes and technology– Remember the four M’s – Meter, Monitor, Maintain and Manage

• Dissemination of outcomes– Blog http://rare-idc.blogs.herts.ac.uk/

Learning


• Application is in two stages• Stage 1

– Summary– The Initiative– The Benefits– Significance For The Sector

• Stage 2– Summary– The Initiative– The Benefits– Significance For The Sector

Breaking it down

Completing the Green Gown Award App

• Limited space in each section in Stage 1– Encapsulate key points– Include real-life benefits, not just projections

• Stage 2 Allows for greater detail– Highlight benefits in paragraphs– Include a chart or diagram, if relevant– Significance For The Sector is the key section– How has your project benefitted other HE/FE institutions?– Presented a Case Study? Use hyperlinks to back up your presence in the sector

Focus on your strengths


Benefits

This project has become a national success story in the UK public sector under the initiative to Reduce and Re-use Energy in Institutional Data Centres RARE-IDC, the core aim of which is to demonstrate sustainable service provision and innovative energy efficient solutions.

Refurbishment not New Build – despite the challenges of re-using the existing space, this was maximised to become a fully functional, fit for purpose data centre to meet the needs of the University for at least ten years

Re-use of some equipment and space – pipework, cabling, floor tiles, split air-conditioning and existing plant space were all re-allocated or reused rather than discarded, resulting in significant cost and carbon savings

80% of materials were recycled during the refurbishment Increase in capacity of 69% - due to the application of innovation, Best Practices and ongoing

consolidation and virtualisation 55% reduction in the carbon footprint of the Data Centre Current operational cost savings of £38,000 up to a target of £39,000 per annum “Free Air” Cooling for 86% of the year (based on local weather conditions). UPS’s (Uninterruptable Power Supplies) are 99% efficient, the best on the market. By selecting a Contained Hot Aisle design we are able to re-use waste heat by recycling it into

the domestic hot water system. Quicker Return on Investment, currently 9 years but we anticipate under 7 with energy costs

due to rise significantly over the next few years. The first University in Europe to achieve compliance against the EU Code of Conduct for Data

Centres (http://bit.ly/h4FA7 ) Working with JISC to further EC-wide knowledge-sharing through the e-infranet project Our pathfinder project enables others to follow our success and apply the lessons we’ve learned

along the way The “green” technologies and associated experience and expertise that went into this new Data

Centre provide a model for existing ICT facilities throughout the HE/FE sector through dissemination supported by the JISC Institutional Innovation Programme, and has been showcased at Gartner, DataCenter Dynamics and at the Uptime Institute Symposium 2011, as well as presented to diverse audiences interested in “Green”ing ICT at Leeds University, Cambridge University, London Universities Environment Group, and four other exclusive executive events across the UK.

All proposals were assessed in line with sustainable procurement principles identified within the UH Sustainable Procurement Strategy http://www.herts.ac.uk/about-us/our-environmental-policy/purchasing.cfm. A sustainable approach was used throughout the project, where particular attention was made to using sustainable materials (most items are UK manufactured and transportation was therefore kept to a minimum), waste material recycling and “carbon miles” reduction through the use of local people and products wherever possible.

Original PUE of 2.2, current recorded PUE now down to an average 1.26 L2,MD (1.19L2,MD – 1.32L2,MD, Winter / Spring / Summer readings), which is a DCiE of 80% efficiency and has been registered with The Green Grid. Autumn readings should bring the annualised figure down to 1.22 in line with target.

Energy Consumed Per Hour Before: After:

Total IT Load 120kW 120kW

Total Facility Load 264kW 146kW

Electricity used per Year 2,312,640KWh 1,282,464kWh

Annual Carbon Footprint 1,394 Tons 773 Tons

Reduction in CO2 Emissions Equivalent to

1 Year 621 Tons 117 Fewer Cars

5 Years 3,106 Tons 586 Fewer Cars

10 Years 6,212 Tons 1,172 Fewer Cars

SftSector

Due to cost and regulatory imperatives the “greening” of ICT is no longer an option for our sector – we have to act. Data Centres typically account for 20-30% of an institution’s electricity consumption, and our exemplar project is not only an important step for The University of Hertfordshire in meeting its environmental commitments but importantly provides an example and a framework for others to follow. Legislation comes into effect this year and applies to about 5,000 large UK public and private sector organizations that consume more than 6,000MWh of electricity per year. As a result, most HE institutions and many colleges are covered by the scheme and are required to report on their energy use and must improve their efficiency or face financial penalties. Furthermore, HEFCE have since announced that all new capital allocations will be subject to commitments to achieving carbon reduction. The common factors that make our project of great value to the sector are:

1. Providing Public Sector leadership through following up on industry-wide requests to provide advice on Best Practice and showcase the results of our project

2. Our commitment to sharing the experience with the sector, providing a model for others to follow 3. The size of the data centre re-furbished was relatively small (75 square meters), typical of many

other institutional server rooms. 4. Budgetary constraints - this is a very common problem with Government funded organisations.

The project demonstrates that Green IT doesn’t have to cost more. A sustainable data centre is one which enhances the business of the operator, is sensitive to and reduces its impact on the environment and is responsive to the people who work within it. The University’s commitment to drive sustainability through all aspects of the process were defined and delivered throughout the project. All aspects achieved within the plan enhance the reliability and resilience of the data centre, resulting in a replicable, resource-efficient and exemplary sustainable facility. We have a Blog and Web site in order that useful information on the “journey” of the new data centre is published to the world and has some very topical subjects mentioned on it. Blog: http://rare-idc.blogs.herts.ac.uk/ Web site: http://www.herts.ac.uk/about-us/facilities/learning-resources/about-lis/rare-idc/home.cfm Case Studies: Uptime Institute:

http://symposium.uptimeinstitute.com/images/stories/symposium_2011_files/GEITcasebriefs/UHertfordshire_p2.pdf

E&T Magazine: http://eandt.theiet.org/magazine/2011/05/learning-curves.cfm DataCenter Dynamics: http://www.datacenterdynamics.com/focus/archive/2011/03/datacenter-leaders-

awards-big-savings-from-a-small-data-center HEEPI: http://www.goodcampus.org/uploads/DOCS/111-Case_1_Herts_Data_Centre_v5.pdf

Demonstrating innovation and best practice, building knowledge and experience, in November 2010, this data centre became the first such university facility in Europe to prove adherence to the EU Code of Conduct for Data Centres.. The project team hosted a successful Green ICT conference in September 2010 to which a wide audience was invited and has been awarded best in class accolades from The Uptime Institute and DataCenter Dynamics.



Thank You

Any Questions?

19

Your next steps – making the most of your EAUC Membership…1. Now you’ve learned how to win… you need to

enter! Want recognition for your sustainability excellence, enter the 2012 Green Gown Awards behaviour change category. Entries open in summer 2012Categories mentioned in this session were:• Sustainable procurement• Green ICT• Space Efficiency

2. Learn more about previous winners and highly commended entries on the EAUC resource bank – here you’ll find lots of 2012 case studies and videos

Membership matters at www.eauc.org.uk

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Http://rare-idc.herts.ac.uk Reduction And Re-use of Energy in Institutional Data Centres (RARE-IDC) Steve Bowes-Phipps, Data Centre Manager University