The initial capital cost of a data center facility runs anywhere from $10 to $30 million per megawatt of IT capacity. Despite these high costs, the average data center strands between 25% to 40% of its IT loading capacity through inefficient data-center equipment layout and management. As such, substantial financial losses are routinely incurred through lost IT loading capacity. Put another way: in practice, four typical data centers are needed to provide what could be provided by three data centers with more optimal design.
This case study shows how a virtual facility approach that leverages proactive mathematical simulation of data-center thermodynamic properties can minimize lost capacity far more effectively than a traditional iterative, multi-stage data center deployment methodology. This paper’s economic analysis shows the extent to which the virtual facility approach allows data center operators to realize original data-center operational intent and provide for full intended lifespan of the data center.