Now more than ever, IT-focused organizations need to modernize their outdated and inefficient data-centers. Quite often there are small, and simple steps that can be taken to ensure that you are getting the most out of your data-center and that it’s as reliable as possible. Below are a few steps that you can take to modernize and improve the efficiency of your data-center.

Learn from the power you are using. Quite often, old and outdated data centers do a terrible job at monitoring and reporting on power usage. Upgrade your reporting software and metering devices so that your data center managers can learn from the data. Collecting and archiving company-wide power-usage data allows the data center management team to perform analysis or failures, fine-tune energy management methods, and address potential maintenance issues.

Give your secondary emergency power protection a promotion! Considering vast improvements in recent years in generator technology, data centers very frequently still rely on an effective secondary emergency power source. Quite often, your secondary emergency power source is an important last line of defense when problems arise. By enhancing this secondary power source, through implementing automatic transfer switches, versatile assemblies, and advanced controllers and meters, you can seamlessly transfer essential loads from one power source to another.

Boost your power and energy. Modern electrical distribution strategies can increase not only your power density, but also energy efficiency and flexibility at the same time working to minimize overall maintenance. Stepping up your PDUs (power distribution units) can lead to a minor but significant (up to 3%) increase in efficiency in the majority of data centers. Using this strategy will also reduce your needs for cabling, while enabling you to effectively manage power usage all the way down to the outlet.

Step up your switching equipment maintenance. Many classic data centers have their switching equipment designed to provide 20 years of service, assuming there are properly maintained.  You can improve the overall safety and performance by servicing the switches on a regular basis, updating relay schemes and circuit breakers every 10 to 12 years.

Watch out for higher-than-normal temperatures. Be sure to take advantage of automated controls and sensors when it comes to catching above average temperatures in your data center. These automated controls and sensors will enable economizer cooling and airflow management solutions to get to work, ensuring improved comfort and performance levels.

Upgrade UPS Productivity.  A relatively low-risk and low-cost way to improve your data center is to upgrade your UPS with a newer model. Advanced UPS systems running in high-efficiency mode can deliver an efficiency of 99%! This is a great method for boosting reliability, overall annual savings, and cutting energy waste for your organization.

Consider new cooling techniques. Your IT equipment footprint maybe decreasing but its power requirements are most likely increasing. Review your current equipment rack capabilities and consider upgrading to take advantage improved cooling, cable management and modular design. Effective cooling techniques use the best rack containment schemes for active cooling instead of controlled ventilation.

LEDs…. For long term savings. Although it is a smaller chunk of your overall data center power usage, when you invest in LEDs for lighting, you can expect some major cost and energy savings over the long term. Look for an integrated, multi-sensor technology approach for your lighting solution to help automate gains using daylight and occupancy sensors.

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