#1: Reduce the load of the IT Equipment through server refresh, server virtualization, and storage virtualization. Do a server audit and remove servers that are no longer in use. It is common for large data centers to have servers that are not being used still in the racks, these servers are still eating up power and rejecting heat. Reducing the IT Equipment load has a cascading effect and reduces the energy consumption of the cooling plant (chillers and CRACs) as well as electrical equipment (PDUs and UPSs) losses.
#2: Once the IT Equipment load is reduced, look at optimizing airflow. Install variable speed drives on the CRAC supply fans to match the load. Consider installing a hot aisle or cold aisle containment system. This prevents the hot server exit air mixing with the cool conditioned air. Containment solutions will also enable you to be more aggressive with raising the temperature setpoint to reduce the load on the cooling equipment (i.e. your chiller or DX CRAC Units)
#3: Upgrade the cooling plant to more efficient equipment. The key efficiency metric is kW/ton. The lower the kW/ton, the more efficient the equipment is.
#4: Contact your local utility and ask them for ideas. I work a company that contracts with Utilities to provide assessment and energy efficiency incentive programs. Most data center projects I have worked on, the incentive is $50k+. Yes, some utilities will pay you to be more energy efficient
Also, check out the DC Profiling tool from the Department of Energy.
#2: Once the IT Equipment load is reduced, look at optimizing airflow. Install variable speed drives on the CRAC supply fans to match the load. Consider installing a hot aisle or cold aisle containment system. This prevents the hot server exit air mixing with the cool conditioned air. Containment solutions will also enable you to be more aggressive with raising the temperature setpoint to reduce the load on the cooling equipment (i.e. your chiller or DX CRAC Units)
#3: Upgrade the cooling plant to more efficient equipment. The key efficiency metric is kW/ton. The lower the kW/ton, the more efficient the equipment is.
#4: Contact your local utility and ask them for ideas. I work a company that contracts with Utilities to provide assessment and energy efficiency incentive programs. Most data center projects I have worked on, the incentive is $50k+. Yes, some utilities will pay you to be more energy efficient
Also, check out the DC Profiling tool from the Department of Energy.