365 Main Adopts LEED Standards For All Future Data Centers

Data Center developer and operator 365 Main says it is the first company of its kind to commit to full compliance with the building certification system put forth by the U.S. Green Building Council.

As proof of its commitment, 365 Main announced the development of a new data center in Newark, Calif., the first LEED-certified data center in the country in which customers can lease customizable private rooms from 5,000 to 30,000 square feet. Design and construction has already begun on the 136,410-square-foot facility, which will open in Q4 2007.

Energy efficiency improvements in the newly announced Newark facility and all future projects include the use of:

Recycled and regionally sourced construction materials.
Computer Room Air Handlers (CRAHs) that consume 30 percent less energy than traditional CRAHs by allowing air conditioning units to ramp up and down to achieve required under-floor air pressure.
Make Up Air Handler units with outside air economizers that use 100 percent outside air on days when the temperature is cool enough to achieve data center cooling requirements.
Various other improvements, including energy-efficient lighting, lighting controls, water-efficient landscaping and alternative transportation modifications.

Data Ceneter Energy Use Background:

Government involvement in computer efficiency is increasing. Earlier this year, in a letter to computing-industry representatives, the EPA said it “is initiating its process to develop an Energy Star specification for enterprise computer servers. President Bush signed a bill that urges Americans to buy energy-efficient servers, and the Department of Energy has begun trying to get involved in helping companies become more energy-efficient. Technology companies including Google, IBM, Microsoft, Cisco, Sun Microsystems and Hewlett-Packard met with DOE officials last month to discuss fears that volatile and expensive energy could hinder the tech sector.

Computer companies have also been rolling out new energy-efficient products recently. Dell has unveiled two PowerEdgeservers that the company says underscores its commitment to environmental responsibility and its goal to design the most energy-efficient products.

Dell’s not alone - manufacturers such as IBM, HP and Sun have made recent announcements concerning the energy efficiency of their systems. IBM recently announced that it would launch a new business unit in 2007 that will focus on environmental technologies. Hewlett-Packard announced a new energy management system, dubbed HP Dynamic Smart Cooling, that’s designed to deliver 20 to 45 percent savings in cooling energy costs. In addition, Sun has unveiled its Project BlackBox.

Most recently, Pacific Gas and Electric Company announced that it is leading a nationwide coalition of utilities to tackle energy efficiency programs for the high tech sector, focusing on data centers and incentives for energy efficiency.

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