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Email
your success stories to:
Kevin Afflerbaugh
Energy Sustainability Coordinator - Commercial and
Industrial Programs
Afflerbaughk@bouldercolorado.gov
Success Stories – January 2009
LEED Certified Data Center:
IBM completed the installation of a 72,000-square-foot
raised floor data center at the Boulder facility and received
Silver LEED certification. The United States Green Building
Council manages the Leadership in Energy and Environmental
Design (LEED) program which helps improve the quality of buildings
and their impact on the environment. Energy efficiency is
one of six aspects of the LEED certification process. The
energy efficient design features include:
- Plate and frame heat exchangers which utilize
outside air temperatures to provide free cooling to the
data center
- Variable speed chillers which are able to reduce
flow and energy consumption to match the varying cooling
loads
- Variable speed primary pumping which reduces
energy consumption at low flows
- Variable speed computer room air conditioners
which modulate airflow and cooling as required by the computer
loads
- Premium efficient motors
- Dual level lighting controls
- Energy efficient substations
- R30 reflective roof
IBM has received several rebates from XCEL Energy
for implementing these energy efficient measures. One additional
rebate is in process and the rebate amount is dependent on
the facility's loaded operational efficiency verification.
Because of this design and participation in the XCEL Custom
Efficiency Rebate program IBM will be named the “Cooling
Efficiency Champion” for 2008 at the upcoming XCEL Energy
Expo in February.
Continuous Commissioning Efforts:
IBM engaged the services of Texas A&M University, Energy
Systems Laboratory, for two phases of commissioning work at
the IBM facility. Commissioning is the process in which mechanical
equipment is analyzed and operating specifications are modified
to optimize energy efficiency. The first survey was performed
on the Central Utility Plant equipment. Recommendations from
this survey were:
- Operate the backup satellite chiller plant
as the data center primary cooling system instead of the
Central Utility Plant
- Automate the chiller and the free-cooling control
systems
- Eliminate three-way valves in chilled water
systems
- Improve boiler efficiency with operational
changes
IBM will receive a rebate for this survey for
participating in the XCEL Energy Building Recommissioning
process. Additional rebates are available when these items
are implemented.
In a second commissioning effort 70 air
handlers were surveyed and their operating specifications
were modified to include:
- Broadening of economizer controls which utilize
outside air for free cooling
- Implementing static pressure resets for cooling
airflow which is dependent on outside air temperature
- Implementing static pressure night setback
to reduce airflow for overnight operations
- Chilled water pump operation for start / stop
control based on required demand
- Control program changes which eliminate the
opportunities for simultaneous heating and cooling
The site is expected to save 1,300 MWH/year from
these efforts.
Ray Tafoya
IBM Global Energy
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