RFID Energy-Management Systems for Data Centers
Wireless solutions monitor these facilities in real time to keep them cool, while reducing power consumption and costs.
By Bob Violino
Feb. 1, 2012—Data centers—facilities that typically house servers, routers and storage systems—are energy hogs. The equipment not only is sensitive to heat but also generates large amounts of heat, so cooling is essential. But all too often, data centers are cooled excessively, to ensure the best environment for the equipment contained within them.
That makes data centers among the biggest energy consumers within enterprises. And the use of energy in these facilities continues to climb, despite the fact that many organizations have consolidated servers, thanks to technologies such as virtualization. According to a report released in September 2011 by DatacenterDynamics, a London-based research firm, data centers worldwide were expected to consume 19 percent more energy in the next 12 months than they had in the past year.
The greatest increase in power demand is in markets with the highest projected data center facility growth over the next 12 months, the report says. That means bigger increases in energy use are expected in major U.S. and European markets than anywhere else. A significant number of the organizations queried think increased energy costs will have an impact on their data center operations during the next 12 months.
Feb. 1, 2012—Data centers—facilities that typically house servers, routers and storage systems—are energy hogs. The equipment not only is sensitive to heat but also generates large amounts of heat, so cooling is essential. But all too often, data centers are cooled excessively, to ensure the best environment for the equipment contained within them.
That makes data centers among the biggest energy consumers within enterprises. And the use of energy in these facilities continues to climb, despite the fact that many organizations have consolidated servers, thanks to technologies such as virtualization. According to a report released in September 2011 by DatacenterDynamics, a London-based research firm, data centers worldwide were expected to consume 19 percent more energy in the next 12 months than they had in the past year.
|
| Illustration: John Hull | iStockphoto |
The greatest increase in power demand is in markets with the highest projected data center facility growth over the next 12 months, the report says. That means bigger increases in energy use are expected in major U.S. and European markets than anywhere else. A significant number of the organizations queried think increased energy costs will have an impact on their data center operations during the next 12 months.
To continue reading this article, please log in or choose a purchase option.
Option 1: Become a Premium Member.
| One-year subscription, unlimited access to Premium Content: $189 |
Option 2: Purchase this article.
| Pages: 5 | Word Count: 1,733 | Purchase Price: $19.99 |
