EPA Energy Star Continues Rating Development Efforts
The February 13th EPA Energy Star teleconference on data center ratings included an announcement of future activities in addition to discussions of the rating system itself and barriers to its implementation. EPA representatives proposed a data center rating system based on PUE (IT Energy/Total Energy) as a measure of infrastructure efficiency. While this system does not capture IT efficiency, teleconference leaders suggested that the PUE data would best capture the impact of cooling and support systems. EPA also said that it was very important to it that the rating be based not on raw PUE but on a percentile of performance or ratio value adjusted for climate, tier level, and other key factors.

EPA also presented a very tight launch timeline with initial comments on the rating system due to the agency by February 22nd, a data collection kickoff meeting date of March 6th, and a March 14th deadline to notify the government of plans to participate.
The March 6th kickoff meeting will also be a teleconference. At this meeting, Energy Star will present the final version of the data collection template and kick-off the data collection effort with industry.
 

Dell and VMware Broaden Relationship to Simplify Virtualization
Dell will begin the process of putting VMware ESX 3i hypervisor across all virtualization-certified Dell PowerEdge servers starting in early April. Customers will be able to purchase with a single click, easing virtualization planning, deployments, and management. The agreement between the two companies is intended to simplify virtualization for Dell customers with a strategy that will deliver Dell PowerEdge servers embedded with VMware ESX 3i hypervisor. The initiative, announced at VMworld, is the first in a series of innovations that will expand adoption of virtualization as a standard ingredient in datacenter technology.

Active Power, Inc.  launched an online library of technical white papers that address a variety of critical power issues and technologies. These resources will help customers understand and address the technical and business issues to be considered in the design and deployment of critical backup power and cooling systems for their mission critical facility. Two of the most recently published white papers focus on containerized power and cooling systems and the issues surrounding the required ride-through time in a mission critical data center environment. “Modular Power and Cooling Utility in a Box – Driving Efficiencies through Rapidly Deployed and Right-Sized Power and Cooling” discusses the reliability improvements, efficiency and financial gains to be had in an integrated continuous power system deployed in a modularized container. “15 Seconds versus 15 Minutes: Designing for High Availability” highlights the traditional practice of designing uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems based on a requirement of 15 minutes of ride-through time and how newer, more cost-effective technologies such as flywheels have changed the need for this requirement.

Verari Systems introduced the BladeRack 2 XL computing platform. Verari said the newest addition increases the company's lead in high-density blade-based storage, compute, and workstation solutions with one of the most power efficient platforms available in one cost-effective product.

McKinsey & Company will first reveal the findings of a year-long global study conducted by McKinsey in collaboration with the Uptime Institute at the Uptime Institute's April symposium. Revolutionizing Data Center Energy Efficiency—Key Analyses lays out the corporate IT strategy and governance groundwork necessary for implementing the significant top-down organizational change required to achieve transformational change within an organization in the energy use of enterprise computing. Following the executive briefing on the report, a CIO Roundtable will review the report findings and seek a consensus on a collective call-to-action.

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Fenwal Protection Systems launched the Fenwal 732 Conventional Single Hazard Releasing Control Panel. The new panel can be used to control Fenwal’s full line of suppression systems, including FM-200, 3M Novec 1230 Fire Protection Fluid, Argonite, FE-13, Halon 1301, as well as sprinkler supervisory, deluge/pre-action, foam, and foam/water systems.
A full complement of input and output circuits provides a high degree of programming flexibility, making the Fenwal 732 well equipped to handle all special hazard extinguishing systems.  It fits easily between the studs of a 16-inch standard wall for easy installation and maintenance. In both commercial and industrial applications, the Fenwal 732 panel is an ideal choice for protecting a hazard area with high value assets, including server rooms, process control rooms, data processing areas, cabinets, turbines, and warehouses, as well as stand-alone equipment, such as wave solder machines.