Practical framework to assess Datacentre and equipment performance and reduce costs

IT managers can make direct cost and efficiency savings in their Datacentres while meeting the latest EU voluntary code on ‘green’ data centre operations, through a new health check service from on365. The new service draws on the broad operational guidelines set out by the new EU code called the “Code of Conduct on Datacentres Energy Efficiency¹, to offer Datacentre managers an overview of the their Datacentre’s efficiency and how costs and energy demands can be cut by thousands of pounds annually through short and longer term changes depending on the situation. Set up during years of growth, when meeting customer demand was top priority, many UK-based large and small organisations’ Datacentres are wasteful of energy supplies or are outstripping power supplies available at their site. on365’s service comprises a range of operational checks as needed: a basic audit of Datacentre operations energy demand operational efficiency testing assessment of the Datacentre’s cooling and ventilation infrastructure on365 can then provide organisations with practical advice on simple steps needed or longer term infrastructure maintenance and management strategies needed to address any operational practices that are wasting money or preventing adherence to the EU code.

The EU Code published in November marks the first attempt to set out benchmarks such as DCiE (Data Centre infrastructure Efficiency) to help the public sector and businesses measure the efficiency and optimise the operation of their datacentre, while reducing the infrastructure’s environmental demands.

Benchmarking
Government and business alike want to cut operational costs and manage down their Datacentres’ use of costly resources. So far, they have been held back by the lack of practical advice, the absence of industry benchmarking for Datacentres’ operations and the often complex relationships between the different parties – centre owners, FM companies and so on - involved in operating Datacentre infrastructures.

on365's new service draws on our infrastructure management expertise and the performance benchmarking in the EU code, to show the vital adjustments that government and business must make to save money and reduce carbon emissions while demonstrating those efficiencies to their chief executive or the board.

Savings
In one recent case seen by on365, an organisation was wasting £17,000 in energy costs each year on a poorly-specified uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) back up unit, which caused excessive power demand on the Datacentre’s utility supply, equivalent to almost two thirds of the  company’s main IT system’s power consumption. This was also leading to excessive Datacentre cooling costs for the firm. After system assessment, a new UPS was fitted, delivering a new and more resilient power supply with a pay-back time of 17 months – and greener IT operations in the future.

"The ‘health check’ approach delivers practical steps that data centre manager can organise immediately such as switching off non-utilised servers, fitting server blanking plates and adjusting air conditioning set-points. It also provides effective methods for Datacentre managers to gain meaningful Datacentre metrics so they can demonstrate savings and plan longer term savings and green IT strategies.

Results from recent efficiency assessments have shown that the cost of the service is recouped within weeks and in one case, capacity was found for expansion in a server room, where the IT Manager believed his infrastructure was already operating beyond its limits.

For further details contact on365 or email: supporting.technology@on365.co.uk 

¹ Code of Conduct on Data Centres Energy Efficiency, EU, November 2008.