Recommendations for Optimizing Energy Efficiency in Data Centers

There is an enormous rise in digital demand, which puts a lot of pressure on data centers, causing them to use more energy than ever before. Environmental concerns and rising energy costs are two factors pushing many people and industries to reduce energy usage. There are many ways to do this that are beneficial, and overall, can help reduce energy usage in data centers. We will look at practical, sustainable, and ethical solutions to reduce energy use in data centers without sacrificing performance.

Where to Start: Understand Your Energy Consumption

Figuring out where to start with reducing energy use in data centers begins with understanding how much energy you consume and how you're consuming it. Overall, this gives you an idea of where your energy is being used more and where you might be able to cut energy costs and usage first. One way to evaluate this is by looking at your PUE, or Power Usage Effectiveness, and here's how you can calculate this:

Total amount of energy used/IT equipment energy usage = Power usage effectiveness

Where Energy is Used in Data Centers

There are many different areas where energy is used in data centers, and knowing these areas can help you understand your energy consumption and which areas are pulling the most energy.

• Cooling systems such as HVAC units or liquid cooling
• Lighting or auxiliary equipment
• IT equipment for storage, networking, or servers
• Power distribution systems such as transformers
• Comfort HVAC for employees
• Compute: either Generative AI or cloud storage servers
• Security systems

How to Measure Your Energy Consumption

You will want to start by figuring out your energy consumption, and the best way to do this is by measuring it. Measuring allows you to see your starting point and be able to track your improvements along the way. Installing energy meters on your power panels and subpanels will allow you to track the energy from the source. Solutions from Mitsubishi Electric, such as EcoAdviser, are a great way to take that up a notch. EcoAdviser is equipped with the AI technology of Mitsubishi Electric's "Maisart." The system provides total support for energy saving activities from understanding the current condition, identification/factor diagnosis of energy losses, to effect verification of energy saving measures. Using these resources to collect data can help you see peak usage patterns and spot insufficiencies or malfunctions.

Optimizing Your Cooling Systems for Sustainability

Since data centers produce heat, cooling systems are a necessity. Data centers contain a lot of equipment that can produce massive amounts of heat, which can cause overheating and even damage to the equipment. However, cooling systems typically consume a great portion of a data center's total energy consumption, in fact, they make up almost 40% of energy consumption. However, there are options for limiting that energy usage as much as possible, to only use the energy required to operate effectively and safely. Here's a look at some ways you can optimize your cooling systems for sustainability:

• Adjust your temperature set points
• Implement intelligent cooling systems or variable speed fans
• Monitor your air flow regularly
• Ensure there are no obstructions to air flow
• Implement hot/cold containment
• Update technologies to increase efficiency

Learn more about control solutions and support for liquid cooling by visiting our Liquid Cooling Solutions web page.

Address Any Energy Malfunctions or Issues

As previously mentioned, solutions such as EcoAdviser will help with this process of ensuring there are no malfunctions or inefficiencies throughout your energy system. For example, one thing that can be monitored is unbalanced three-phase loads, which can increase energy consumption. Our EcoAdviser can provide real-time alerts if any imbalances exist to ensure that the problem is addressed as soon as possible. You should also optimize your UPS systems for efficiency by getting a scalable or similar system that can grow with your business. UPS systems help to provide backup power in the event that your facility loses power, which prevents losing any data and any downtime because of power loss. When choosing a UPS system, ensure that it can harness enough power to power your facility during a power outage with the same energy that it would if you had power, ensuring that there is always a backup in the event of energy loss.

Implement Automation and Be Mindful of Scheduling

Another recommendation to reduce energy use is to understand and analyze your peak hours of energy consumption. Typically, there are multiple hours in a day where the most energy is being used, and knowing this can help you understand why those hours are occurring and if there are areas to cut back on. For example, you can schedule non-emergent or non-critical work tasks during off-peak hours to avoid doing too much during that time and consuming even more energy. Automation tools are also a great addition, as you can use them to power down systems when they are not in use, helping to save that energy. VFDs are a great way to automate air flow when it comes to HVAC to help conserve energy where possible. They work by controlling the speed of the motor used to generate AC, which helps with energy efficiency and reducing operating costs. Automation tools like these can help to work without the need of manual interference to keep your energy consumption at a minimum.

How to Push for Long-Term Sustainability

Long-term sustainability should be the goal here, as data centers are one of the major energy-consuming facilities across the globe. Making an impact on a data center's sustainability can help to lower operating costs, reduce its environmental impact, and make a huge difference in sustainability as a whole for the planet. Planning for long-term sustainability can help you reduce your energy usage now, throughout the next few years, as sustainability continues to be a top priority for many.

Implement Renewable Energy Sources: Many renewable energy sources, such as wind, solar, and hydro energy, are naturally made and can replace fossil fuels. Implementing these can help you run less power through the grid and save on energy consumption.

Establish a Sustainability Plan: Develop a plan showing how you will achieve your sustainability and reduce energy use goals. Revisit this plan regularly as new technologies and advancements are made.

Implement Monitoring: Monitoring can help you visualize your energy consumption easily, allowing you to determine areas for improvement. This can be either inside of the system using energy monitoring modules, or by a global solution like a DCIM or BMS.

Explore Battery Storage: Battery storage can be a great way to have more control over energy usage patterns. Having a battery storage solution allows for energy to be stored later on in batteries for future use, and typically they work hand-in-hand with renewable energy sources. It's a great way to have a backup energy source, while having an alternative in the event of supply and demand imbalance.

Hybrid Grid Considerations: If budget and environment allow, you might consider using a more sustainable and independent solution while taking some of the toll off of the grid. Solutions depend on where your facility is, but options include: solar, wind, water, or even nuclear options.

Are You Ready to Reduce Energy Usage?

Reducing energy usage has been a hot topic worldwide, and sustainability has been an ongoing goal for many. There are multiple ways that you can reduce energy in data centers, and considering these suggestions is already putting you a step ahead. Whether you're looking to cut energy usage drastically or you're just looking to be a little more sustainable, these suggestions are the place to start. Mitsubishi Electric has multiple solutions and systems that can help you track and measure your energy consumption, cut back on energy, and be ready for future needs.

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