NetApp First Data Center to Earn Energy Star for Superior Energy Efficiency

by | Jul 15, 2010

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NetApp’s data center at its technology center in Research Triangle Park (RTP), N.C., has earned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star for superior energy efficiency. The RTP data center, which opened in 2009, is touted as the first data center to achieve this rating level from the EPA.

EPA’s Energy Star energy performance scale helps organizations assess how efficiently their data centers use energy relative to similar data centers nationwide. A data center that scores a 75 or higher on EPA’s 1-100 scale is eligible for the Energy Star. The RTP data center achieved a score of 99.

The RTP data center will reduce NetApp’s CO2 emissions by approximately 95,000 tons annually.

NetApp also provides tours of the data center to share its best practices and design efforts with other companies looking to reduce their overall data center power consumption. Since the data center opened more than 500 organizations have toured the facility.

Here are several energy-efficient features that helped NetApps earn the EPA label.

— 74 degreesF average supply air temperature: Higher temperature threshold significantly reduces cooling costs.

— Airside economizer: Free cooling is used 67 percent of the time during the year.

— Pressure-controlled room: Avoids oversupplying air and wasting energy.

— Cold aisle containment: Protects supply air temperatures from being impacted by hot air returning from the racks.

— Overhead air distribution: Takes advantage of cold/hot air buoyancy and eliminates ductwork, reducing the energy needed for fans.

In June, the EPA launched the Energy Star label for standalone data centers and buildings that house large data centers.

Energy Star Leaders prevented the emissions of more than 220,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide and saved more than $48 million across their commercial building portfolios in 2009.

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