At the recent 2019 Data Center World Conference, held March 19-22, 2019, I attended a lightening session presented by Mike Zarrilli, Jr., executive director of data center solutions and Sharon Ann Thomas, product manager, AHU, Johnson Controls. The session titled, “How to Reduce Total Cost of Ownership and Drive Down PUE,” focused on three ways to accomplish this namely increasing allowable temperatures in the data centers, investing in cooling technology, and utilizing data center design for optimal outcomes.

Zarrilli said that increasing air temperatures in data centers allows for a reduction in airflows and, ultimately, fan use. “Fans use a lot of power,” he explained. As for cooling, he said data center operators can opt for free cooling and use waterside economizers that provide 20% to 30% in savings. “We have moved beyond CRACs and CRAHs,” he said.