Data Center Rating System

David Edenburn

ESD Consultant

Retired

LEEDuser Basic Member

12 thumbs up

October 18, 2012

There are a lot of new data centers being built. My first reaction is to register these as C&S since they are providing rental space (the empty data "suites") to tenants. What goes into the suites (servers) are not always under the control of the landlord. What experiences with this approach have people had? I notice most of these projects go for NC. Is there a reason why they don't do C&S?

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Noriko Nagazumi

Woonerf Inc.

LEEDuser Basic Member

57 thumbs up

Thu, 10/18/2012 - 07:47

How about finishes, lighting, plumbing and HVAC? If these are all under the owner control, NC may be more appropriate than CS.

David Edenburn

ESD Consultant

Retired

LEEDuser Basic Member

12 thumbs up

Thu, 10/18/2012 - 07:57

Typically it is an empty box with an electrical outlet and stubs for the chilled water. May have simple lights (CFL ceiling light) but it may not. It is assumed that the tenant will provide his own equipment and finish. The landlord provides main and back-up power (sub-metered) and chilled water connection for the tenant's FCU's.

Kimberly Frith

LEEDuser Basic Member

210 thumbs up

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 11:19

David, based on the Rating System Selection Guidance it sounds like your data center is best suited for Core and Shell since you are not undergoing a complete interior fit-out.

David Edenburn

ESD Consultant

Retired

LEEDuser Basic Member

12 thumbs up

Thu, 10/25/2012 - 02:26

Thanks, that was my opinion, but I typically see these types of projects listed under NC. In many cases, the server rooms may not all be occupied for years so we have a mostly empty building at the end of the project, sounds more like C&S. Would there be any advatgae to doing NC versus C&S?

Kimberly Frith

LEEDuser Basic Member

210 thumbs up

Mon, 10/29/2012 - 12:40

You may want to check the Rating System Selection Guidance document, which sets the rules on which rating system your project falls under based on the scope. http://www.usgbc.org/ShowFile.aspx?DocumentID=6667 One big difference between NC and CS is the treatment of unfinished spaces. If you have unfinished spaces in your CS project, you can claim energy savings based on the tenant guidelines and lease agreement (i.e. specifying that the tenants install high efficiency HVAC equipment, efficient lighting systems, etc.). If you have an NC project with unfinished spaces, you have to commit that those spaces will be compliant with all the prerequisites and credits that you pursue, but you are unable to claim energy savings in the future spaces. It sounds like CS would be your best bet for this setup, and potentially your only option depending on the scope of any interior fitout work.