NetApp RTP Data Center is First Ever Data Center to Earn EPA's Energy Star for Superior Energy Efficiency
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC.-July 14,
2010- NetApp (NASDAQ: NTAP) today announced that its
dynamic data center located at the NetApp technology center in
Research Triangle Park (RTP) has earned the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency's (EPA's) prestigious ENERGY STAR®, the
national symbol for protecting the environment through superior
energy efficiency. The RTP data center, which opened in 2009, is
the first data center to achieve this distinction from the EPA.
EPA's ENERGY STAR energy performance scale
helps organizations assess how efficiently their data centers use
energy relative to similar data centers nationwide. A data center
that scores a 75 or higher on EPA's 1-100 scale is eligible for the
ENERGY STAR. The RTP data center achieved a near perfect mark by
scoring a 99.
"Improving the energy efficiency of our
nation's buildings is critical to protecting our environment," said
Jean Lupinacci, chief of the ENERGY STAR Commercial and Industrial
Branch. "NetApp is leading the way by earning EPA's ENERGY STAR for
its data center."
"NetApp is thrilled to accept EPA's ENERGY
STAR in recognition of our RTP data center," said Thom Bryant, vice
president of Workplace Resources at NetApp. "It's a testament to
NetApp's environmental stewardship and commitment to leveraging
efficient and sustainable technologies."
The RTP data center is primarily used to
further research initiatives and create and improve storage efficiency
and shared infrastructure technologies for delivering cloud computing and
IT on demand to help customers around the world accelerate their
business. Due to its innovative design and construction, the RTP
data center also serves as a blueprint for organizations that are
looking to design their own data centers. In the short time that
the RTP data center has been open, representatives from more than
500 organizations have toured the facility. The goal of these tours
is to share NetApp best practices and design efforts with customers
and noncustomers alike so that the same sustainable and efficient
design approach can be applied around the world to help lower
overall data center power consumption. In fact, the unique RTP data
center design has reduced CO2 emissions for NetApp by
approximately 95,000 tons per year, which is equivalent to removing
16,000 cars per year from the road.
To earn the ENERGY STAR, NetApp implemented
the following features in the RTP data center:
- 74°F average supply air temperature: Using a higher
temperature threshold on supply air (74°F instead of 55°
to 60°F) allows NetApp to dramatically reduce cooling
costs.
- Airside economizer: The data center is cooled by using just
outside air (free cooling) 67% of the time during the year.
- Pressure-controlled room: Modulating fans, based on NetApp's
proprietary technology, supply pressure-controlled rooms and
regulate the volume of air to avoid oversupplying air and wasting
energy.
- Cold aisle containment: The cold room separates the cold and
hot air streams to protect supply air temperatures from being
affected by hot air returning from the racks.
- Overhead air distribution: Instead of pumping cold air up
through the floors (raised floors), overhead air distribution takes
advantage of cold/hot air buoyancy and eliminates ductwork,
reducing the energy needed for fans.
ENERGY STAR was introduced by EPA in 1992 as
a voluntary, market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions through energy efficiency. Today, the ENERGY STAR label
can be found on more than 60 different kinds of products, new
homes, and commercial and industrial buildings. Products and
buildings that have earned the ENERGY STAR prevent greenhouse gas
emissions by meeting strict energy-efficiency specifications set by
the government. Last year alone, Americans, with the help of ENERGY
STAR, saved nearly $17 billion on their energy bills while reducing
the greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those of 30 million
vehicles.
For more information about ENERGY STAR, visit
www.energystar.gov/buildings.
To calculate greenhouse gas emissions, visit
www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-resources/calculator.html.
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