How can an environmental monitor help Data Centers go green?

As the backbone of today’s digital world, downtime in Data Centers can be costly and detrimental to the business. Because of the need for continuous operation, these facilities can be resource intensive. With multiple rows of high computing servers and critical electronics, the key to preventing unexpected failures is maintaining the correct temperature and humidity. Data Center Cooling, while imperative, can be costly and can have a major impact on the environment. According to the Department of Energy, 2% of the total US electricity use comes from Data Centers (“Data Centers and Servers”). 50% of that electricity use is due to cooling.

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When looking for a more sustainable approach to operating a Data Center, there are alternatives in cooling technologies that can cut down on energy consumption. One of these methods is Free Cooling (Air Cooling).

What is Free Cooling?

Free cooling has emerged over the past decade as one of the best technologies for improving efficiency in a Data Center. The simple concept takes hot air that is generated from servers and expels it into the environment as cooler air is brought into the facility. In parts of the world where the outside air is cooler, the need for a compressor in the HVAC system is eliminated, leading to significant reduction in energy consumption. According to researchers at Intel, changing their Data Center to free cooling would save the facility up to 67% of cooling costs (“Reducing Data Center Cost”). While free cooling is an alternative for Data Centers to be more sustainable, it can add a level of uncertainty.

How to Eliminate Uncertainty

Without a proper filtration and HVAC system, airborne contaminants and humidity can lead to corrosion on electronic components and ultimately lead to unplanned downtime of the server. With the rise of air pollution, maintaining a controlled environment is becoming increasingly difficult. With an airborne corrosion monitor like Cosasco’s ÅirIQ, real-time data is provided to monitor how electronic components are affected by the environment. Per ISA71.04-2013 standard, the level of corrosivity within the environment is classified into different G levels from G1 to GX. Any deviation from G1 shows that the environment lacks proper contaminant filtration and humidity control. 

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Real-time insights into the environment allows operators to not only stay ahead of potential failures but also be confident that their HVAC system is working properly. The ÅirIQ enables Data Center operators the ability to fully leverage the free cooling system, lower energy consumption, and become more sustainable.

About ÅirIQ

Cosaco’s latest innovation in corrosion monitoring, the ÅirIQ provides real-time corrosion measurement of copper and silver based on the ISA71.04-2013 standard. ÅirIQ is currently installed at major Data Centers, increasing efficiency and sustainability across the globe. Learn more about ÅirIQ and connect with an expert to decrease your footprint.