Hi-
I am working on a large data center project where the client requires hundreds of 4-processor servers for this space. We went to the Energy Star website and they literally only have one (1) option for a 4-processer server. For LEED to require that we use energy star rated servers and then only provide us one option is ridiculous. How can they possibly think that this is a viable requirement? Does anyone have any thoughts or suggestions on how to approach this? Because this is a data center, it is imperative that we meet the EAp2 requirements of 50% of rated power being Energy Star rated. However, if my client requires a particular 4-processer server, which happens to not be the only one that Energy Star has rated, we may not be LEED certified at all. I guarantee that my client will never want to pursue LEED again if this is the case. I think GBCI/USGBC needs to seriously revise this requirement until there are more server options available.
Paul Conrad
Energy EngineerCLEAResult Consulting
346 thumbs up
January 6, 2011 - 10:48 am
As I understand it, the definition of Energy Star Server is currently undergoing revision, which may account for why there is only one on the list.
You're other option is to look at your large data center from larger standpoint, and say that your data center as a whole meets EnergyStar. The methodology for this is available on their website, but the short version is that to be qualified as Energy Star, they must meet a certain requirement of energy Use based on the total power used by the servers.
Paul
Nancy Henderson
Managing MemberArchEcology, LLC
83 thumbs up
January 6, 2011 - 4:32 pm
We have frequently found that the list of qualified products provided by Energy Star is not exhaustive. So try checking with manufacturers directly. You should also make sure the servers you are specifying are actually eligable. The definition provided by Energy Star is:
"Computer Servers must have all of the following characteristics:
Marketed and sold as a Computer Server;
Designed for and listed as supporting Computer Server Operating Systems (OS) and/or hypervisors, and targeted to run user-installed enterprise applications;
Support for error-correcting code (ECC) and/or buffered memory (including both buffered DIMMs and buffered on board (BOB) configurations);
Packaged and sold with one or more AC-DC or DC-DC power supply(s); and
All processors have access to shared system memory and are independently visible to a single OS or hypervisor.
Note: In addition to those products that do not meet the computer server definition above, the following product types are explicitly ineligible for ENERGY STAR qualification:
Blade Systems including Blade Servers and Blade Chassis
Fully Fault Tolerant Servers
Server Appliances
Multi-Node Systems
Storage Equipment including Blade Storage
Network Equipment"
Leslie Jones
Interior DesignerFOX Architects
57 thumbs up
January 7, 2011 - 12:43 pm
Thank you Nancy. We did find out that our servers are classified as blade servers so I think we'll be able to comply with the prereq and the credit.