IBM Uses Hot Water To Cool Supercomputer, Saves Energy by 40%

See on Scoop.itGreen Building Design – Architecture & Engineering

IBM, in collaboration with the Leibniz Supercomputer Center in Munich, is using hot water to its SuperMUC supercomputer. This is not new for IBM. It

Duane Tilden‘s insight:

>The system, called LRZ “SuperMUC”, is based on an IBM System x iDataPlex Direct Water Cooled dx360 M4 server. It is said to feature 150,000 cores and provides peak performance of up to three petaflops. In layman’s language it could be described as something equivalent of the processing power of 110,000 personal computers.

IBM claims that the technique needs 40% less energy to cool this machinery as compared to the other air-cooling systems. The heat is then used for the heating systems of the Leibniz Supercomputing Center campus. This accounts for an annual savings of $1.25 million on their heating bills.<

See on www.greenpacks.org

The 21st century data center: You’re doing it wrong | ZDNet

See on Scoop.itGreen Building Design – Architecture & Engineering

Outdated designs are keeping data centers from reaching their full potential.

Duane Tilden‘s insight:

>One example of this are data centers that use raised floors for cooling. Many IT pundits have discredited this method of cooling as wasteful, including Schneider Electric’s territory manager for the Federal government and the ACT, Olaf Moon.

[…]

Cappuccio notes that engineering firms that are consulted to build data centers know about the newer and more efficient ways to do things. But rather than try something new, they prefer the stock standard cookie-cutter approach to creating data centers because it’s fast and easy, he said.

[…]

“I’ve seen a lot of data centers being built that are too big,” says Cappuccio. “We’re finding people with data centers that are three to four years old when they realise they have far too much space, and are still providing air conditioning to those areas. So they begin to shrink them, putting up walls, bringing down the ceiling so they don’t air condition the extra space.”

See on www.zdnet.com

Learn How New York City Is Cleaning the Air With Just One Change | Sustainable Products and Practices

See on Scoop.itGreen & Sustainable News

Want clean air? Sometimes it takes just a few simple changes. New York City, in partnership with the Environmental Defense Fund, has a great story to tell about

Duane Tilden‘s insight:

>… Just recently, New York City and EDF through the city’s Clean Heat Program converted over 1,200 boilers to the cleanest available fuels reducing over 150 tons of soot pollution, or particulate matter (PM2.5), from the air.<

See on thegreenregister.com

Solar Air Conditioning: A technological development opportunity in renewable energy (2010) | Solarthermalworld

See on Scoop.itGreen Energy Technologies & Development

This presentation comes from Puerto Rico’s Universidad del Turabo, and explores the benefits of solar thermal air conditioning, the technology that makes this application possible, and how its use can be expanded in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean.

Duane Tilden‘s insight:

Interesting technologies in Solar and Waste-Heat powered A/C

See on solarthermalworld.org

Why HVAC Performance Gets Worse Over Time

See on Scoop.itGreen Energy Technologies & Development

HVAC systems in mid- to large-sized commercial buildings have increased in complexity steadily over the last 15 years. With the introduction of DDC controls and other building automation functions, even the most straightforward VAV systems are a compilation of components from multiple manufacturers, built by multiple contractors, that must be programmed and sequenced to work together seamlessly as intended.

Duane Tilden‘s insight:

[…] Considering the ultimate objective for HVAC systems — keeping building occupants safe, healthy and comfortable, while using the least amount of energy — it is no wonder HVAC has become so complex.

Beginning in 2013, […] the complexity of HVAC systems will increase yet again. […] new buildings and major renovations will be required to be designed and built with new technologies including demand-controlled ventilation, energy-recovery ventilation, daylight-harvesting controls, and economizer cycles for even small comfort cooling applications. […]

See on www.facilitiesnet.com