Posts Tagged ‘Energy Savings’

Energy costs are becoming more and more of a deciding factor that home buyers weigh in on when choosing to buy a particular home or condo over another. You can get a quick snapshot of the current owner’s energy use and monthly expense by contacting the local utility companies. As a new owner you can challenge yourself to improve the home’s carbon footprint by exploring energy saving alternatives. One simple and quick way to get started is to consider converting to compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs. CFL bulbs are well known for conserving energy. They also are designed to last at least six times longer.

However, CFL bulbs cost a lot more upfront.

Aside from purely environmental considerations, do they actually save money? Possibly even more to the point, do they really last?

For weeks, I was skeptical. In my experience as a homeowner, I have found that some light bulbs from the same package last longer than others. This is especially true for bulbs placed inside ceiling fixtures. Heat gets entrapped inside the fixtures where there is nowhere for it to escape. Some break even before they even get connected properly within a socket. It seems there could be reasons NOT to invest in them if the objective is to save a few cents worth of electricity each month.

To investigate, this week I sampled a package of four CFL spiral bulbs at a home improvement store. The box cost $7.88, compared to $2.39 for a set of incandescent bulbs with the same brand. Both products were designed to generate approximately 800 lumens of light. Interestingly, the CFL bulbs came in a new, smaller “T2″ size, meaning they are designed to fit inside most fixtures. After I noticed that, I read the fine print on the packaging: to my surprise, the manufacturer actually offered a two-year replacement warranty. Changing a set of three bulbs in a ceiling fixture once every two years instead of once every four months? Sign me up!

To calculate possible monthly savings, consider that the incandescent bulb consumes 60 watts, the CFL, 13. After subtracting the difference, convert that to kilowatt hours (kWh) by multiplying by 0.001, as a kWh is 1,000 watts operating for one hour. The current price per kWh in my geographical area, including taxes, is 10.1705 cents. Let us say you rely on a 3-bulb ceiling fixture to provide light for an average of four hours a day. Within 30 days, you’ll save $1.72 from this fixture alone—and more if you do much work from home.

Parting Tip #1: CFL bulbs do go on sale! Watch for them within ads from nearby home improvement stores.

Tip #2: As you install the product into fixtures, hold the bulb from its ballast, which is the middle plastic portion, instead of from its glass. Otherwise, the extra force on the glass can cause damage.

Tip #3: CFL bulbs CANNOT be thrown away. However, there are all kinds of recycling programs in place, including some located within home improvement stores. Check the Internet for many more options.

Energy Savings Devices: Our parent company, Certified Energy Consultants, has numerous partnerships with manufacturing companies dedicated to the mass market sale of energy saving products for homeowners and businesses. We intend to market quality, tested products to the consumer. Our first phase of products are designed for savings of up to 25% on electricity consumption. Products being released this summer are intended to provide for partial and/or TOTAL energy independence. The most exciting product to offer TODAY is the Power Factor Correction Device (PFCD).

Introduction: Energy Savings Tracking Methods
After installing energy conservation measures (ECMs), Energy Service Companies (ESCOs) often determine the energy savings resulting from the project and present the savings results to their customers.  A common way to calculate energy savings is to measure the flows of energy associated with the ECM, and then to apply spreadsheet calculations to determine savings.  For example, a chiller retrofit would might require measurements of chilled water supply and return temperatures and kW.  The benefit of this approach is that the ECM is isolated, and that only energy flows associated with the ECM itself are considered.  

This method is described as Option A or Option B in the International Performance Measurement and Verification Protocol (IPMVP).  Table 1 presents the different options.  Option A requires some measurement and allows for estimations of some parameters.  Option B requires measurement of all parameters.  In both options, calculations are done (typically in spreadsheets) to determine what energy savings.  Option C uses utility bills to determine energy savings.  

Some ESCOs Have Limited Options
There are many situations where Option A or Option B (Metering and Calculating) is the best approach to measuring energy savings, however, some ESCOs insist upon only using Option A or Option B, when clearly Option C would be most appropriate.  If the ESCO was a lighting contractor, then Option A should work in all cases.  Spot measurements of fixtures before and after, agreed upon hours of operation, and simple calculations can be inserted into a spreadsheet that can calculate savings.  The same spreadsheet can be used over and over.  However, for ESCOs that offer a variety of different retrofits, it is necessary to be able to employ all options so that the best option can be selected for each individual job.  Controls Retrofits, or retrofits to HVAC systems are typically excellent candidates for Option C.

However there are drawbacks with metering and calculating savings and these can include:  
-    Greater expense
-    Difficulties convincing the customer of the appropriateness and veracity of the method and savings numbers
-    Inability to handle interactive or many difficult ECMs.

ESCOs that do not have the capacity to employ all options are at a disadvantage over those ESCOs that can employ them all.  Specifically, we want to address those ESCOs that only employ Option A and Option B.  These ESCOs may encounter the following problems due to their limited offerings:
-    Measurement and Verification costs can be greater, which lead to higher project costs, which can limit the energy projects that the ESCO can sell.  The lack of Measurement and Verification options overall can make the ESCO less competitive, and hurt the financial performance of the ESCO.
-    Using Options A or B sometimes require the customer to understand and approve of complex energy calculations.  These options are often difficult to explain to customers who insist upon seeing savings in their utility bills.  Customer satisfaction can suffer if Option C is not made available to customers who want to see savings on their bills.
-    Options A and B cannot handle difficult ECMs.  The methods used to determine savings are inaccurate, and make large assumptions that cannot be borne out if a third party consultant is hired to oversee the savings determination process.

These issues are discussed in more detail below.

Cost of Utility Bill Analysis vs. Metering and Calculating
Measurement and Verification should cost between 1% and 15% of the project cost.  Metering and calculating savings often has costs associated with labor and equipment.  As many project configurations are different, projects typically require unique configurations of sensors, placements of sensors and savings calculations.  On more complicated ECMs, only highly skilled energy professionals can determine which measurement devices should be applied, and to what components.  Manipulating data, and finally creating spreadsheets with engineering calculations also requires skilled personnel who command high wages.  Metering equipment also has a cost, and for many projects, metering equipment, or control points, have to be purchased, and remain on the job for years.  

Of course, there are cases where metering and calculating is the least expensive and the most desirable method.  If an ESCO only provides a lighting retrofit, then measuring a selection of lighting fixtures before and after the retrofit, and producing a spreadsheet that determines savings is the best option.  

On the other hand, utility bill analysis is inexpensive.  With specialized utility bill analysis software, clerical workers can create the Measurement and Verification analysis.  Bills are entered, weather imported, a linear regression performed, and reports made.  Capital need not be sunk into metering equipment or control points or into long hours of analysis and data manipulation.  Typically for utility bill analysis, measurement and verification costs are a fraction of what costs for retrofit isolation savings are – ranging between 1 and 5% of project costs.

Explaining Savings Numbers to Customers
Customers understand utility bills.  The reason they entered into an energy savings contract is often triggered by the desire to lower their energy bills.  Retrofit Isolation methods do not address the customer’s utility bill.  A project may be saving energy, but the utility bill may actually be increasing.  Retrofit Isolation does not address this at all.  ESCOs need to be responsive to customer’s needs, and this is done through communicating in a manner that the customer’s understand.  They want to see the savings on their utility bills – this is a method they would trust.  

In addition, customers are sometimes mistrustful of energy service companies that provide savings numbers that the customer cannot understand.  Although the calculations in the spreadsheet may appear perfectly reasonable to the energy analyst, to a customer who is not well-versed in math, the calculations may remain incomprehensible, and the customer is thereby required to trust the energy service company, sometimes leading to mistrust.  Energy savings calculations should remain as simple as possible and explained in a manner that the customer can understand.  This makes the customer’s job easier, and reassures the customer that the energy service company is acting in a truthful manner.

For these reason, more and more customers ask for Measurement and Verification using utility bills.  

Difficult and Interactive Energy Conservation Measures
For many energy conservation measures, Retrofit Isolation is the best option.  This would include lighting savings, savings from energy efficient motors, and from other non-weather dependent energy users.  

However it is very difficult or impossible to measure savings for some energy conservation measures.  Still, some ESCOs insist on using Retrofit Isolation for these difficult measures.  For example, engineering calculations can be made estimating the savings to be had by shutting down air handlers at night.  But, assuming that the air handlers receive chilled water from a chilled water loop shared with other air handlers, how is one to measure energy savings?  Fan savings are easy (assuming the unit is constant volume), but in order to calculate savings, several estimations need to be made, which result in an estimate of energy savings, just as accurate before the retrofit took place as after it took place.  Suppose the unit is a VAV system, at what percentage would the fan have been running?  Suppose the cooling coil and/or heating coil modulated to meet a changing supply air set point – how are the fan CFM, cooling and heating loads to be calculated if the unit is not running and measurements can not be made?

Controls retrofits are difficult to measure and quantify directly.  Usually, however, when a controls or commissioning measure is enacted, more than one item is adjusted, which further complicates an already difficult task.  Suppose a partially working economizer was fixed, in addition to putting the fan on a variable speed drive, in addition to shutting off the air handler during unoccupied hours, and finally upgrading the chiller plant.  Each of these measures would interfere with the savings calculations of the other.  How can one calculate chiller savings, when the loads have changed so dramatically via the economizer, reduced hours and reduced air flow?  This is a very difficult task, that most likely cannot be done with an acceptable degree of certainty.  

Complicated cases like this require utility bill analysis to measure and quantify savings.  The procedure is very simple, inexpensive, and easy to explain relative to many Retrofit Isolation methods.

Benefits of Utility Bill Analysis
The benefits of utility bill analysis to calculate energy project savings are as follows:

-    Utility Bill Analysis, by its nature, is relatively simple, and does not require complicated engineering analysis.  
-    Utility Bill Analysis is relatively inexpensive, as it requires less skilled workers, less time and no dedicated equipment.
-    Utility Bill Analysis provides savings numbers in a format and method that makes sense to the customer.  
-    Utility Bill Analysis is the best method to handle complicated energy conservation projects, or projects which interact with each other, making assessment of individual measures impossible.
-    ESCOs can use the fact that energy savings is determined using the customers’ utility bills as a selling point.

Utility Bill Analysis and Changes in Weather
Unfortunately, a simple comparison of pre-retrofit and post-retrofit utility bills is usually not an effective method to determine energy savings from ECMs.  Weather varies from year to year, and affects the amount of heating or cooling energy usage, which can interfere with actual utility savings numbers.  For a fair analysis, utility bills should be “corrected” for weather data, which results in a reasonable savings determination.  Linear regression is applied to utility usage versus degree days to determine pre-retrofit utility usage patterns, which are then compared to post-retrofit utility usage to determine savings.  Unfortunately, the scope of this paper is limited, and cannot present the method in detail.  Weather-correcting for weather is easy, however, as specialized software, used by ESCOs around the world, simplifies the weather correction process and presents savings reports.

Drawbacks of Utility Bill Analysis
Facilities may change their energy usage patterns, by installing more equipment, building additions, occupancy changes, etc.  This upsets the existing utility bill comparison of pre-retrofit to post-retrofit usage.  These changes need to be monitored and accounted for with Baseline Modifications.  

There is a certain amount of randomness in utility bill comparison.  So many factors influence the amount of energy usage in any given month, and they cannot all be accounted for.  As a result, if you are trying to show savings that is less than 10% of the total electricity load, then the randomness in the bills may seriously interfere with the accuracy of your savings calculations.

If you track savings by comparing utility bills, you will only be able to track total savings for a given meter, but you will not be able to separate out the savings for different Energy Conservation Measures (ECMs).  For example, if you installed a lighting retrofit, an energy efficient chiller and a control system in a hospital, you will not be able to tell how much energy is being saved by the control system.  Energy analysts try to do break out the savings for each ECM occasionally, but they are only making educated guesses.  

Conclusion
When an ESCO approaches a performance contract, there are several measurement and verification options available.  Those ESCOs that only have at their disposal a limited set of options are often spending too much money on measurement and verification, and therefore are held back from selling larger projects, and limit their own success.

Customer satisfaction may suffer when ESCOs only offer Retrofit Isolation approaches to Measurement and Verification, as customers may want to see savings in their utility bills.  ESCOs who refuse to speak in the same language or terms as the customer may suffer decreased customer satisfaction.

Rising production costs and fierce competition is resulting in manufacturing companies looking at all aspects of savings, especially energy savings.

Spray nozzles of the right specification can lead to significant savings in both energy and raw materials.

One of the overlooked areas is the use of the correct spray nozzle. Whilst frequently ignored in the manufacturing process, it is often this item of equipment that is the most important. Header tanks, pumps sophisticated controls, pipe work are all immaterial if the spray nozzle “at the sharp end” is not delivering the right amount of fluid (flow rate) at the correct spray angle and with the right spray pattern. This can lead to excessive wear on the pumps and ancillary equipment resulting in higher energy consumption and related costs.

The phrase it sprays, is often used, but how effectively is often not considered.

In addition to these more obvious savings there are a many “hidden” savings to be made.

Expensive down time and failed equipment could be contributed to poor nozzle performance.

Production lines designed to operate continuously are expensive items if shut down owing to badly performing spray nozzles and this failure could affect the total production plant with the resulting unsuccessful distribution to customers, which in turn may affect their production.

All this from the wrong or poor performing spray nozzle!!

The correct spray configuration is essential to maximise the spraying operation and continuous spray nozzle development will lead to greater beneficial savings.

In addition, the wrong or worn out spray nozzle will eventually lead to poor finished products and possible rejection of expensive products. This could result in extra production to make good these shortfalls, with the resulting increase in energy costs. All this will reduce profit margins.

Initial investment will be required to introduce the correct nozzle, but payback can probably be counted in months and in some case weeks.

As an ongoing maintenance program, substantial savings will be made by regular inspection and maintenance of the spray operation and possible replacement when nozzles become worn, through blockages, corrosion, wear and accidental damage

Regular maintenance of the spray nozzles must be undertaken to ensure the nozzles have optimum spray performance.

All nozzle configurations should be analysed on a regular basis to ensure that the spray pattern, flow and operating pressure cannot be improved upon, possibly with new nozzle technology, or the fact that the application process has not changed. The latter being the case then a new specification should be sought.

As well as energy savings, raw material savings must also be taken into consideration and it is feasible to experience water reduction of up to 40% in certain industries and spray nozzle applications.

Also to be taken into consideration must be the application where the spray fluid is not water, but more expensive chemicals or fluids. With correct nozzle design even greater savings may be achieved.

Energy savings can be made in pump operation and it some case it is possible to reduce the number of pressure pumps, thereby saving considerable operating costs and associated maintenance cost.

To summarise, energy savings, raw material savings and a reduction in the wear and tear of other equipment can all be experienced if the correct spray nozzle is specified.

The specification must include nozzle material, spray angle, spray pattern, flow and pressure. With all these set correctly a regular maintenance programme should be undertaken. With the correct specification and maintenance schedule then energy and raw material savings can be expected.

Fox 10 Local Phoenix News, does a report on our Energy Saving Device, you be the judge.

The green movement has reached the home loan industry in the form of green home loans. With everyone moving towards products that are eco friendly, there is a movement towards making efforts to ensure that people save on non renewable energy sourced and look at options that are greener. And green home loans are a great way to ensure that individual homes also use renewable energy sources to power up their homes.

Since the initial cost of installing units that help in harnessing renewable energy, people are generally unwilling to spend that extra amount of money. Green home loans gives that extra push to people to make that investment due to the rebates that they can expect if they opt for green homes or install solar panels or use green appliances at home.

If you buy or build a sustainable house, the interest rate that you can expect with green home loans is likely to be lower. Some of the sustainable products that you may have to invest in include solar hot water, rainwater tanks and other water and energy savings equipment. Opting for a sustainable home, helps you in getting a lower rate with green home loans and also saves you money on utility bills too.

To give you an idea of what savings you can expect, consider a 0.25% rebate on green home loans on a $300,000 loan for 25 years. You can stand to save more than $14,000 over the life of the loan. This reduction easily covers up for the extra cost of energy savings units like solar panels and the like.

Green homes are expected to make up to ten percent of new home construction over the next several years, according to a study done by McGraw-Hill Construction. Homeowners are interested in purchasing green homes because of the benefits they offer- from healthier indoor air to energy savings.

What are some of the primary benefits of a green home? Such a home is constructed with much thought given to the materials used in construction. Building materials are expected to be toxin-free, sustainable and energy-efficient. The use of toxin-free building materials helps combat indoor air pollution. Since we are exposed to the air in our homes as much or more often than outside air, indoor pollution can pose serious health risks to residents. A healthier home means fewer visits to the doctor and hopefully fewer respiratory problems.

Besides potential health savings, the net cost of owning a green home is typically comparable to, if not cheaper than a standard home. People who live in green homes save money by consuming less energy and fewer resources than standard homes. The savings add up over the years in decreased energy and water bills.

Insurance companies are becoming convinced that green may be the way to go. More and more insurance companies are offering discounts on policies covering green homes. Similarly, there are even a few mortgage companies offering discounted loan rates for home buyers buying green.

Here are some of the reasons for the heightened interest and discounts offered by the business community:

A green home is often more durable than standard homes because of its high-quality building materials and construction processes, requiring fewer repairs.

The value of a green home is often higher than that of a comparable standard home, and the market demand for green homes is expected to rise. A green housing development in New York has demonstrated the ability to command ten to fifteen percent higher rental rates than comparable units in the surrounding area.

And local, state and federal governments are increasingly offering tax breaks and incentives for building a green home or adding green features to an existing home.

What are some of the features of a green home? Efficient plumbing and bathing fixtures, drought-tolerant landscaping and water-conserving irrigation systems help green homes use less water than standard homes. This feature will become increasingly important as the prospect of water shortages loom in some parts of the country.

Because many green building materials incorporate significant recycled content, they require the use of fewer natural resources. The amount of excess building materials dumped in landfills is significantly less than the amount generated by traditional practices.

Some green homes incorporate carpets and floor tiles from recycled tires and bottles. Other homes use salvaged materials or renewable and sustainable products, such as bamboo, hemp and soybean. Homeowners can choose countertops made from recycled street lights and other recycled glass.

Low-volatile organic compound paints and finishes inside the home reduce exposure to toxic chemicals. Formaldehyde-free insulation also insures fewer dangerous chemicals are released into the atmosphere.

Energy-efficient appliances, insulation, roofing materials, doors and windows lower heating and cooling bills.

In many cases, builders are also including universal design elements into green homes. These designs, which include wider doorways, no stairs, flat entries and accessible bathrooms, sinks and showers, assure that people with varying abilities can live in and age in their homes and their neighborhoods.

LEDs or light emitting diodes are lighting devices which until very recently were used only in single bulbs and small electronic devices. But now LED lighting is being used extensively to meet all lighting requirements. With their highly efficient lighting qualities, they have come to revolutionize the home as well as commercial lighting systems.

LED lighting is a major breakthrough in the lighting industry and has continued to evolve throughout the years. One of the most important benefits of LED lighting is that it saves energy along with being eco friendly. This is a tough combination to beat. Besides lighting up homes and offices at reduced costs, they also reduce carbon emissions. Though the initial cost of LED lights is slightly on the higher side, the energy savings that it brings throughout the years more than compensates for the investment. LED lighting fixtures are available for almost all lighting needs.

If you think of holiday lighting, the traditional incandescent bulb uses 6 watts per bulb. Compare that to a mere .08 watts used by an LED bulb. A strand of 50 traditional incandescent lights running on an average of five hours a day for the entire 30 days of the season would cost about $5 per day. But to run the same number of LED lights, it costs just $6 for the entire season. Look at how the energy savings add up if you use LED lighting fixtures for your other lighting needs as well.

LEDs last much longer than the fluorescent and incandescent light bulbs because they have no filaments in them.  LEDs also generate lesser heat compared to their traditional counterparts; consequently they have a very long life. The life span of an LED lighting fixture is estimated to be 100,000 hours. Since the heat output is limited, they also make for safer decorating. Not only that, it directly impacts the air conditioning bill. When the light bulbs do not warm up the entire house, you do not need to keep the air conditioner on longer. This is advantageous especially in offices where the computers that are used inside generate a lot of heat and the air conditioning costs are quite high. If the heat produced by the lighting fixtures can be eliminated, it translates to great cost savings every year. The output of light which the LEDs emit over the years is consistent; studies have shown that the amount of light given out by a 12-Watt LED is comparable to that of a 65-Watt incandescent bulb. It does not fade away or emit lesser light as time goes by. Besides the above features the LEDs are also major energy saving devices since they have a brighter colored light, they emit light the moment the switch is turned on, they don’t flicker when the light is dimmed and do not consume energy when they are turned off.

These benefits are useful to homeowners as well as those in the manufacturing sector. LEDs in the earlier times were used only for their different colors, but technological advancements have introduced white LEDs. They can be used to light up areas that require bight light such as hotels, casinos as well as houses. They consume just a fraction of energy as compared to traditional bulbs to generate the same amount of light.

Would you like to reduce electrical costs related to your compressed air system? More than likely- you can.  Start by determining your annual compressed air electrical costs by using this formula:  

Brake Horse Power X 0.746 X Annual Hours of Operation X KWH Cost
                              (divided by) Motor Efficiency

NOTE:
1 CFM @ 100 PSIG FOR 8760 HOURS COST $110.00 PER YEAR IN ELECTRIAL COST

Next…follow these
Top 7 Compressed Air Energy Saving Tips: 

1.    Fix your Air Leaks
If you do nothing else – follow this one tip:  Find and fix your compressed air leaks. Air leaks are industry’s “biggest looser”! 
The average plant looses 20% to 30% it its compressed air through multiple small air leaks.  The money spent on man power and parts to find and fix these leaks is well worth it. Note ( ¼ inch  hole will flow 103 cfm @ 100 psig)

2.    Change to Synthetic Lubricants
If you are using petroleum based lubricants, you could experience up to an 8% energy savings by switching to Compressor Synthetic Lubricants.  Plus extend equipment life and save on oil changes and disposal cost.

3.    Reduce Plant Operating Pressure
If possible – reduce overall plant pressure.  Less pressure > Less CFM used > less energy consumed.

TIP:  Reduce plant pressure 2 pounds at a time, then test run for minimum 24 hours. If any equipment has issues…then increase pressure 2 pounds until running smoothly again.  For every 2 pound pressure reduction -you save 1% of the electrical cost to run the air compressor.

4.    Check Differential Pressure on Air Compressor Filters.
Start at the compressor cabinet filter then check the compressor inlet filter. 

Note: A dirty inlet filter can cost you 1% to 3 % in additional electrical costs.  Why? Because decreased air flow to the compressor inlet valve increases the compression ratios resulting in more run time.
Next check the air/oil separator differential pressure under a full load.  A new separator causes a differential pressure drop of approximately 2-3 psig.  When your pressure drop reaches 8-10 psig, then it’s time to change your separator elements.  A dirty separator element can cost you up to 5% in additional electrical cost.

Next change the control air filter element. This often over looked, but still important filter where  the controls receive their air signal. A pressure drop here causes the controls to receive the lower pressure signal loading the compressor more and using more electricity. 

5.    Reduce the Compressor Inlet Temperature
By reducing inlet air temperature 10°F below 70°F, you save 2% on electrical usage. Your benefit increases up to 8% on a 30°F degree day.  But increasing the inlet temperature 10°F above 70°F will cost you 2% in additional electrical usage for every 10°F up to 10% at 120°F. (Inlet temperature has very little affect on Lubricated screw compressors)

6.    Check Differential Pressure on Compressed Air Line Filters.
Size Compressed Air Filters to be twice (2x) your compressor CFM flow rate. This will lower your pressure drop approximately 2-3 psig and save 1% on energy costs. Elements will last twice (2x) as long and you will save on maintenance costs.

7.    Know what quality of compressed air your plant needs.
The cleaner & dryer the compressed air the more energy used. 
Check with the manufacture of your equipment to determine the quality of air needed.

 View the Air Quality Classifications ISO 8573.1 2001

With the advent of the Carbon Reduction Commitment as well as our long standing commitment to utilise the latest energy saving products and services Temperature Control has decided to partner with some key companies to look at energy savings in Data Centres

Over the next few months Temperature Control will be announcing many new initiatives to look at how we can harness renewable energies, improve current set up and implement new technology to reduce power consumption in Data Centres.

To see how simple some of the changes can be, below is a 10 point action plan.

1. Basic maintenance

Basic maintenance of cooling systems is often overlooked in data centres. Blocked filters, heat exchangers and loose fan belts can account for an increase in power consumption by up to 30%. On a standard CRAC system this could be up to £300 per month or over £3,000 per year.

A standard yearly maintenance could be as little £500 per year, when compared to the potential savings, it doesn’t take long to realise that this is essential.

2. Monitor performance of room

Before any improvements can be made it is essential that the current operation is monitored so you can see real-time improvements.

It also also important that any changes made are also monitored to see that the changes made are giving the improvements anticipated.

3. Increase temperature settings

One simple change that can save energy is increase the room temperature. Many times we find rooms set to 19 deg C so it feels cooler than the comfort cooled offices set at 22 deg C. Modern computers don’t need cooling to the temperatures of old and many are happy at mid 20’s.

One word of caution though, consult both your IT manager and cooling specialist, before any modifications are made as changes may effect control and alarm settings.

The temperature setting may also be used as a buffer in case the plant fails. The lower the temperature of the room, the longer the cooling can go down until the critical temperatures are reached. If this practice is used it may be more practical to install standby cooling.

4. Tidy under the floor

The data centre is built and all the cables are neatly installed in containment to help the cool air from the CRAC units to distribute evenly to the floor grilles.

Move forward 5 years. The original configuration has changed beyond recognition, the structured cabling has tripled in size and as the data centre has had to be maintained throughout these changes, the cables and additional racks have been installed in the available space.

How does this effect the cooling. If the air cant get to those hot spots, the CRAC units work harder to cool the space. By having a spring clean, removing redundant cabling and tidying up the current cables, you can help get the cold air distributed to the right places and reduce how hard your CRAC units work.

5. Re-balance the floor grilles

One other major contributor to getting the right air temperatures is the floor grilles. After years of moving them round, shutting them off as there is a cold draught it is now time to look at how the floor grilles are used.

Are they in the right place. Are you adopting a hot and cold isle configuration or just letting the cold air go into the room where ever.

Take this opportunity to plan how best to use your rack configuration and if possible change your servers to achieve a hot and cold isle regime. Once this is done the floor grilles can be moved to suit and when re-balanced to make sure the same level of air is blown through each grille, the CRAC units will run more efficiently.

6. Fill in the space around the servers

Once you have your hot and cold Isles, any warm air being drawn into your servers is not only inefficient it may also harm the server. By using simple blanking plates in the gaps between each server, it will ensure that only cold air is drawn into the server. This reduces the operating temperatures which will allow the cold air temperatures to be risen, saving energy.

7. Fill in the gaps in the floor

The more cold air we can get in the cold isles, the efficient the CRAC units will be. One of the biggest problems we face when trying to deal with this is the gap at the bottom of each rack. Many don’t see this as a problems as the “cold air goes into the rack anyway”. Good air management ensures that the air is thrown out the floor grille to a height that matches the rack. This ensures even distribution across all racks at various levels in the rack. Air introduced in the bottom of the rack only starves cold air from the servers at the top of the rack.

By filling the holes in the floor we can not only improve the efficiency of the cooling plant, we can help maintain the server life at the top of the racks.

8. Hot or cold isle containment

Taking the hot and cold isle up to the next level, cold isle containment is a proven solution to reduce energy use.

Usually only confined to new data centres, we have partnered with eCool Solutions, who offer not only installations on new sites, they can offer this on existing installations. Working in partnership Temperature Control can advise and make changes to the current cooling systems to allow the cold isle technology to be introduced.

Will this give any savings? Well just ask Yahoo UK, they saved £35,000 recently after eCool Solutions implemented their cold isle solution to their London headquarters.

9. Replace old cooling equipment

Like any technology cooling equipment is constantly improved and can offer improved over 50% more efficiency than older systems. Over the past 3 to 5 years, energy use is now the driving factor when installing new cooling plant and they are not just designed on cooling output only.

Modern data centres have free cooling using outside air, whilst looking at ways of utilising the waste heat for other uses.

This can now be adapted in existing data centres where possible and the time is now to see what equipment you have and if it needs upgrading. This may also be forced on you by the current changes in legislation with the R22 refrigerant phase out, commonly found in many data centres throughout the world.

10. Replace old servers

Leading the way in constant improvements is the IT industry. That new server was updated at the same time as you signed off the order. the result is newer IT equipment is more and more powerful and can do more the equivalent item it replaces.

Although there is an argument on why do you need all this power, when what you have still works fine, the advantage of changing to new is that you use less power to do the same job.

Now it’s not that noticeable on equipment that is 6 months different in age, but when equipment is over 3 years old, it is noticeable. Most servers are running 24, 7, 52 weeks a year. There is no rest and as a result they are at the end of their life after 3 to 4 years.

Is it time to change? How much can you save, will that help contribute to that upgrade?

Do you want more information on this? For many of the above points the cost to implement these changes is minimal compared to the savings that may be achieved. Not only that a full and healthy data centre will reduce failures and downtime, when these savings are considered, then it makes sense to act now.

Temperature Control will be soon be offering a health check service to check the current state of the data centre and advise on how these changes can benefit – to register interest please see link www.temperaturecontrol.squarespace.co.uk