Reorienting your data center layout using hot and cold aisles can also support cooling efficiency. In this scheme, computing equipment is mounted so that the intake fans face the cold aisle and exhaust fans the hot aisle. This creates convection that returns hot air along the ceiling back to the chiller while minimizing the mixing of hot and cold air.
Turning up the thermostat is another possibility. Most data centers I’ve worked in are so cold that you might want a jacket. Computing equipment can often tolerate warmer temps.
Get a Cooler Data Center by Offloading to the Cloud or Alternatives
Many cloud operators are working toward sustainable energy and cooling. Leverage their environmental commitments by moving workloads to them.
DISCOVER: Take these three actions to support sustainability in schools.
Not all workloads are well-suited for the cloud, and cloud operating costs can be high. Still, such a shift could succeed. When pondering Infrastructure as a Service offerings, also consider Software as a Service products that might allow you to replace in-house software with a cloud-based solution.
One cloud alternative is a colocation facility. If a colocation data center provider in your area is committed to sustainability, you could relocate your equipment to them, reclaiming your data center space.
RELATED: What to focus on when modernizing applications.
Audits Help Schools Reduce the Number of Tools that Need Cooling
IT shops tend to acquire computing “cruft” over the years. An audit might reveal redundant, defective or useless equipment that could be retired via consolidation, reducing exhaust heat and thus cooling requirements.
This sounds like a simple step to take, but don’t underestimate the challenge presented. Computing cruft exists because change is hard, and a consolidation project will require IT expertise to achieve success with minimal operating disruptions.
DIG DEEPER: How asset-tracking technology can save money and reduce risk.
Study the Benefits of Wind and Solar Energy for Schools
Two sources of renewable energy that might work for a school district are solar and wind, but the caveat of “it depends” comes into play. Wind energy requires geography with a useful and predictable amount of wind. Solar energy works better in the southern United States than the northern U.S. Whether there’s a reasonable payback time for a solar or wind installation will require a study.
Even if your school is located in a viable area, both solar and wind installation require real estate. Roofs are popular locations for solar panels, assuming the campus buildings can bear their weight. Wind requires one or more turbine towers and will introduce noise.
UP NEXT: What do K–12 technology departments need to know about green IT?
