Make Way for Smart Data Centers

Smart is the way to go when it comes to the next generation of data center facilities. Smart buildings are no longer a dream from the future, and are very much becoming a reality in today’s day and age. When it comes to data center facility management, there is a world of new techniques and strategies that can be adapted to improve and optimize data center services. The spectrum of changes that can be implemented is huge and far-reaching, and organizations need to plan strategically make decisions that work best for them.

Here is an example of a company that has braved the storm and gone all out to creating the efficiency and power that they truly value.

IBM has built its prototype smart building at Rochester, MN in partnership with Johnson Controls. The vision was to integrate facility, infrastructure and enterprise systems in a seamless optimized fashion so as to reap greater economic, environmental and operational benefits. The program was massive as the Rochester campus boasts of 3.2 million square feet of space, with a worldwide data center and office facilities spanning over 35 interconnected buildings. The key highlights of this solution are:

• Instrumentation: This is a big driver when it comes to creating innovative solutions for energy efficiency. Without measurement, one cannot clearly understand the value of the large investment has been put in into sensors, monitors and meters. These sensors and systems automate the measurement of system performance and energy usage under different environmental and equipment conditions.
• Interconnection: The solution integrates the various instrumentation systems with the asset management systems to give a holistic view of energy usage and costs, facility performance and carbon footprint.
• Intelligence: Extensive use of analytic systems helps proactively detect faults and propose strategies to save money before any of the end users are impacted.

Alex Carroll

Managing Member at Lifeline Data Centers

Alex, co-owner, is responsible for all real estate, construction and mission critical facilities: hardened buildings, power systems, cooling systems, fire suppression, and environmentals. Alex also manages relationships with the telecommunications providers and has an extensive background in IT infrastructure support, database administration and software design and development. Alex architected Lifeline’s proprietary GRCA system and is hands-on every day in the data center.