Cross-Connect Blog

Bringing High-Performance Building Principles into the Data Center

June 18, 2015

High-Performance BuildingsThe term high-performance building can have a variety of meanings depending on your perspective. 

In a recent “Building Operating Management” magazine article, author Joe Flynn writes that many facility managers are reducing the size of individual work areas, using smaller furniture elements and taking advantage of natural lighting in an effort to maximize real estate and minimize materials used.

Flynn attributes this in part to the momentum triggered by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and LEED® certification, which makes green design a requirement rather than a luxury.

Several years ago, Chatsworth Products (CPI) introduced “Simply Efficient™,” a concept that embodied its commitment to supporting companies pursuing green design within the data center environment.

Simply Efficient describes CPI’s approach to supporting heat-generating equipment within a cabinet, often without the need for additional CRAC units, in-row air conditioners or liquid cooling solutions. The solution focuses on managing airflow through complete containment at the cabinet level. Hot exhaust air is removed from the rear of the cabinet and funneled into the ceiling’s plenum using a vertical exhaust duct. Hot and cold air are not allowed to mix, eliminating hot spots

Real World Examples

The effectiveness of CPI’s Passive Cooling® Solution has been proven over and over again in data centers around the world. Two examples include:

TCS Case StudyTeleCommunication Systems (TCS), a wireless provider, overcame the problem of limited power availability and became one of the most efficient data centers in the Pacific Northwest. TCS earned two ASHRAE awards and averages a PUE of 1.15.
Read the case study.

BendBroadband, a provider of cable, phone and Internet services, achieved Uptime Institute™ Tier III certification in Design and Facility, and became LEED Gold certified, making it only one of five data centers in the entire world to acquire two of the industry’s most prestigious honors. Read the case study.

By managing cooling at the cabinet level, a data center manager has the ability to easily increase or decrease the amount of cabinets, which makes the most of valuable data center floor space – a benefit that any facility manager can appreciate. Additionally, other forms of containment often require additional materials and time, which increases cost.

CPI’s technical staff have helped customers implement solutions to meet very specific requirements. Thorough planning and CFD modeling helps ensure high performance results. Give CPI the opportunity to make your data center a success by contacting a local sales manager.

Kim Ream, Marketing Project Manager

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