Data Center PUE, WUE Management Systems

Data Center Facility Operating expenses largely consist of human resource and utility costs. Human resources for operation team are optimized in the most effective way thanks to the principles of “Sustainable Operation.” On the other hand, energy and water usage effectiveness is achieved with the PUE (Power Usage Effectiveness), WUE (Water Usage Effectiveness) Management systems.

The main task of data center facilities is to collocate (IT)  Information Technology devices with;

• Maximum availability
• Maximum performance
• Maximum security

Although infrastructure efficiency is not seen as a main task from IT business sustainability perspective, it is particularly important for ROI (Return of Investment), Data Center Sustainable Operation and Environmental Footprint! Infrastructure efficiency is particularly in conflict with high business continuity and high performance. Maximum facility efficiency can be achieved by choosing to operate with no redundancy and out of standard range. This low redundant operation will increase the risks of low availability level at infrastructure topology and low performance and reliability at environment conditions for the information technology equipment. Even if this is unpreferable condition, it may happen unintentionally at operational circumstances especially in case of targeting the efficiency and lowering the utility costs. If the data center infrastructure efficiency is targeted, Efficiency Management should be performed aligned with both DC Load and Capacity, and Environmental Managements.

Data Center PUE and WUE management consists of monitoring the distribution of the energy and water utilities from the point of entry into the facility to the equipment or device consuming them. Real time or periodic retrospective analytics is carried out by Otomatica, so that Data Center PUE and WUE Management System helps the Operation Management to find out the saving methods and to monitor the effectiveness of the saving. As stated before, these saving measures are to be confirmed before implementation through DC Load and Capacity, and Environmental Management Systems in order to secure availability, performance, and reliability.

Major actions related to energy and water effectiveness management are based on various methods such as alternately switched off devices, setpoints, seasonal configuration changes and switch off methods. Most of these methods are based on planning and human maneuvers and the risk increases with critical loads, changing climate conditions and the level of complexity. Business Continuity Risk Management for the effects of the modifications on the site on business continuity should be conducted through DC Load, Capacity and Environment Management Systems.