New Date Set for Energy Star Data Collection Kickoff
Energy Star announced that it had postponed the scheduled kickoff teleconference for its Data Center Infrastructure rating program to Thursday, March 20th at 1:00 EST to allow time to "properly synthesize the important feedback that we have received from industry," the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said. The meeting had originally been scheduled for March 6th.
The EPA invites all interested parties to participate in the Energy Star infrastructure rating development data collection kick-off meeting via internet conference.  This meeting is a follow-on to the February 13, 2008 meeting.

The EPA's goals for this meeting are to:

• Share EPA's final template for collecting key data elements based on feedback from industry

• Outline the timeline and progress milestones for the data collection process

Registration and agenda information for the meeting were scheduled to be distributed this week.
 

ComputerSite Engineering Strengthens Tier System

ComputerSite Engineering , a data center management and engineering consulting firm affiliated with the Uptime Institute, Inc., will release a new white paper, Operational Sustainability and Its Impact on Uptime Performance, Investment Value, and Resiliency, that describes an enhancement to the Tier Classification Standards developed with the Uptime Institute. According to the authors, site resiliency is the combined result of Tier Topology and Operational Sustainability, and a new rating system based on the combination of the two will result in a Classification of Tier IIIA, for example, to demonstrate the site's predicted resiliency.

The authors have also collaborated on an update of the widely read and referred to white paper, Tier Classifications Define Site Infrastructure Performance, that outlines the requirements the Institute uses when rating and Certifying against Tier through licensee ComputerSite Engineering. According to the Institute's Certification Manager, Julian Kudritzki, "this Tier white paper revision addresses industry feedback about organization and specific topics, such as engine generators;" it also includes definitions and FAQs to aid in understanding and implementation of the concepts.ComputerSite Engineering plans several other tier-related initiatives as well. It is expected that both papers will be available on March 21st.
At the same time, ComputerSite developed an image that allows official Tier-rated facilities to protect their investment. The image is intended to clarify the Institute's ownership of Tiers and ComputerSite Engineering's exclusive license to rate against them.

BICSI Spring Conference Released

The 2008 BICSI Spring Conference seminar program will cover the entire scope of data centers, from design and installation to management and maintenance in a comprehensive series of educational seminars on Tuesday, April 29, according to conference organizers.
Topics addressed in these seminars include "green" building and other new trends affecting data center design, labeling standards, efficient power distribution methods and the benefits of 10G optical connectivity. "These seminars contain the most up-to-date information available and will address the challenges and issues facing today's data center designer, manager and operator," said Monte Lloyd, RCDD, Chair, BICSI Education Advisory Committee. BICSI, the association supporting the information transport systems (ITS) industry with information, education and knowledge assessment, is hosting the conference at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, Tenn., April 27-30.
Topics

Sessions include:

• ANSI/TIA/EIA-606-A Plus Addendum 1- Labeling the ITS and Data Center
• The GPS Roadmap to a Reliable Data Center: Right on Cabling, Right on Electrical, Right on Mechanical, Right on Plumbing/Fire Protection
• A Quantitative Comparison of High Efficiency AC vs. DC Power Distribution for Data Centers,
  10G and Beyond in the Data Center with OM3 Fiber
• Technology Trends Driving Data Center Design

Other seminars throughout the conference will focus on screened and shielded cabling systems, the electronic security industry, optical fiber applications, IP-based surveillance systems, third-generation broadband wireless networks and updates on TIA TR-42 cabling standards.

News Briefs

The Uptime Institute, in partnership with Deloitte Consulting  LLP, announced that it would include an awards program at its Symposium 2008: Green Enterprise Computing to recognize Green Enterprise IT efforts.  
Deloitte Consulting's participation makes it possible to offer the 2008 Uptime Institute Green Enterprise IT Awards program free of charge and there is now no fee to apply. The awards program is open to all organizations, public and private, with internally controlled and managed enterprise data centers located anywhere globally. The Uptime Institute Awards are intended to create top-to-bottom institutional awareness that IT can save significant amounts of energy that directly enhances bottom-line profitability while
significantly reducing overall corporate carbon footprint.  Applications and further program information are available on the Uptime Institute's website at uptimeinstitute.org. The application deadline is March 15, 2008.

The Energy Committee of the Critical Facilities Round Table will be holding a meeting on Wednesday, March 12, at 101 Innovation Drive, in San Jose, CA. The meeting is sponsored by Alterra and cosponsored by PG&E's Customer Energy Efficiency Group.
The CFRT says that attendees will:

• Witness cooling systems that effectively replace legacy computer room air conditioners and air handlers and big recirculation fans, while providing very consistent and controlled server inlet temperatures across the data center space 
  
• Learn about dc electrical power systems that convert 575 Vdc to 54 Vdc that enable large scale deployment of 48 Vdc servers through mission critical rectifier plants and stored energy systems, that altogether replace legacy ac systems and their UPSs, PDUs, static transfer switches, and switch gear
• Hear PG&E announce their newest incentive program for implementing energy efficiency improvements in our data centers

The Uptime Institute is holding a webinar entitled How to Use ITIL to Bridge the Facilities/IT Communication Gap Webinar on Tuesday, March 11th at 2:00 pm Mountain Standard Time. This is the first of a series of events and webinars examining the issue. See the events schedule.

Raycap Inc. has developed surge protection devices (SPDs) that provide continuous protection from over-voltage and other transient voltage activity for electronic automation and control equipment. Designated Strikesorb, the SPD modules are available in a variety of application-specific voltages and packaging configurations to protect highly sensitive equipment and electronics. The Strikesorb modules meet the demanding requirements of the international IEC 61643-1 standard and the recently (2007) revised UL-1449 (2nd edition) standard without the use of fuses.  Fuses used in other surge protection devices can compromise the protection capabilities of TVSS systems. Because the Strikesorb modules have successfully passed three-cycle testing at available short circuit currents of up to 85 kA rms, they can be integrated within panelboards, switchboards, switchgear, automation and motion control centers without conducting additional UL testing. Equipment that incorporates a Strikesorb module does not require further UL 1449 testing in order to meet UL Listing requirements, saving equipment manufacturers time and money.

 
EnerSys recently introduced the first 16-V Front Terminal battery for UPS markets. The DataSafe 16-V battery provides more power in less space, easier access and cost benefits. The DataSafe 16-V UPS Battery is available in two sizes: 500 watts per cell (WPC) and 925 WPC. DataSafe 16-V front-terminated batteries require only 44 square feet to support a typical 750-kVA UPS system with a full 15 minutes of run time. The VRLA batteries used for UPS applications are designed to back-up the primary power system, typically supplying power for 15 minutes until the backup generator is fully operational. Until now, these batteries were limited to 12V batteries.
DataSafe 16-V Front-Terminal UPS batteries require 20% less space and scale easily to large capacity systems, minimizing the number of strings needed for larger UPS systems thereby reducing costs. The DataSafe 16V battery fits within many existing cabinet designs, eliminating additional expenses for costly slide-out trays or to upgrade from 12V batteries.

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