Electronics Protection - January/February 2013 - (Page 28)

Industry News Energy Efficiency Again a Top Data Center Concern, According to Fall Survey Results Data center energy costs and equipment efficiency have once again become the top-of-mind issues for data center managers, according to a fall survey of data center users from Emerson Network Power. The fall installment of the biannual survey polled members of the Data Center Users’ Group (DCUG), an association of data center, IT and facility managers and captured input from more than 160 respondents across North America. The questions covered a variety of data center topics including energy efficiency, capacity constraints, third-party co-location providers, modularity and heat and power density. The survey results show that, for the second time this year, energy efficiency, availability and infrastructure monitoring are foremost on the minds of data center professionals. When asked to identify their top three facility/network concerns, 48 percent of respondents cited energy efficiency, making it the leading response to the question for the first time since the survey began in 2005. In spring of 2009, efficiency had reached the second position, and as recently as spring 2012, it was at the third position. Adequate monitoring and data center management (46.3 percent) and availability (45.7 percent) were second and third on the list of top concerns this fall. “Many data center managers are turning to monitoring and data center infrastructure management (DCIM) tools to provide the visibility they need to keep pace with growing capacity needs while working under the constraints of tightened budgets and energy efficiency initiatives,” said Bob Miller, vice president, Liebert global solutions, Emerson Network Power in North America, and a member of the DCUG board of directors. “This greater visibility is evolving data centers to a new stage of maturity marked by a more proactive approach to management that gives data center managers unprecedented insight into operations and allows them to explore ways to reduce energy consumption and meet growing demand without risking downtime.” Along with energy efficiency, capacity issues continue to threaten to strain resources and negatively impact performance levels. Forty percent of DCUG respondents said they expect to run out of data center capacity by 2014, with another 29 percent expecting capacity constraints by 2017. As in previous years, the survey also shows that data centers are running out of power and cooling before they run out of physical floor space. Thirtyfive percent of respondents cited power as the primary factor limiting data center capacity, while 16 percent cited cooling. Only 12 percent gave floor space as the primary factor. The survey also shows that organizations are looking to thirdparty co-location providers and integrated solutions to help them expand and meet growing capacity needs. Thirty-eight percent of respondents reported having decided to co-locate either their entire data center operation or a portion of it. When asked if they have implemented any integrated solutions, respondents indicated that that they already implemented or plan to implement IT enclosures (17 percent), power enclosures (11 percent) and integrated rack infrastructures (11 percent). An even greater number of respondents stated that they are still considering the options (21 percent for IT enclosures, 23 percent for power enclosures and 34 percent for integrated rack infrastructure). Additional responses include the following: sixty-two percent have already, or are currently, analyzing their energy efficiency. Another 19 percent said they will be conducting an efficiency analysis in the near future. When asked who they turn to first for expertise in power and cooling system design, 23 percent and 28 percent of respondents cited power and cooling sales representatives, respectively. Forty-five percent already have implemented wireless technologies in their data centers and another 25 percent are considering doing so. Control Concepts and SurgeX Partner to Deliver Intuitive Control SurgeX has announced the availability of Crestron and AMX control system interface modules designed by Control Concepts. Smart energy management is playing an emergent role in homes and businesses, and the new automation modules will provide intelligent options for power management, measurement and reporting. The partnership makes it easier for integrators and end users to manage their power through an automation system. With the introduction of the Axess Elite and Axess, SurgeX gives integrators and end users a smarter and more efficient way to manage and monitor power. Anytime access to power draw, temperature, over/under voltage and power sequencing provides information about system health and performance, and with the Control Concepts modules, SurgeX dealers can now control Axess and Axess Elite products and manage power via AMX and Crestron automation systems. Three major points of functionality were sought with the modules. First, they had to measure energy usage and collect important data about system health. Second, they had to report usage data and overall system performance with the same interface AMX and Crestron users and dealers were already accustomed too. Lastly, the modules had to allow remote management of IPenabled SurgeX Axess products so integrators could make sensible adjustments for system troubleshooting and efficiency at any time through the control systems. “Our smart energy management solutions present an opportu28 nity for integrators who want to deliver greater value and protection to customers, but we knew we needed to go one step further and give our customers complete power control through their automation systems,” said Shannon Townley, president, SurgeX and Energy Intelligence Solution Sales. Retrofitting Uninterrupted Power Supply Systems Just Got Easier GE has announced a new financing solution for facilities that need to upgrade or expand their current mission-critical electrical infrastructure. GE Capital, the company’s financing arm, is offering the first-ever financing program for UPS systems. In the past, retrofitting UPS systems required large up-front capital expenditures. GE Capital is now offering financing to qualified customers who purchase systems such as the SG series UPS with eBoost software. Customers can arrange a single monthly payment that covers the product as well as installation and regular maintenance services. “The benefits of financing a UPS retrofit can be significant,” said Diane Cooper, general manager, GE Capital’s Equipment Finance business. “Businesses may benefit from energy cost savings while spreading their payments out over time, creating the potential for positive cash flow on a monthly basis.” The financial benefits of financing are driven by the UPS systems’ increased power quality efficiency. eBoost increases power quality in new and existing facilities with up to 98.5 percent efficiency. January/February 2013 www.ElectronicsProtectionMagazine.com http://www.ElectronicsProtectionMagazine.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Electronics Protection - January/February 2013

Electronics Protection - January/February 2013
CPI’s eConnect PDUs Integrate Thermal Management with Intelligent Power Solutions
Five Powerful Virtualization Challenges
How Do You Choose Between Hot and Cold Aisle Containment?
Choosing the Right UPS Deployment Architecture for your Data Center
Adalet Offers Explosion Proof Enclosures Constructed from Stainless Steel
AVX’S MLC Capacitor Series Provides Protection Against ESD Strikes
Electrorack Launches Contain-IT Aisle Containment Solution
CoolitDC v.6.00 Boosts Modeling Accuracy and Ease-of-Use
Tru-Block Failure-Free Surge Protection Products Introduced
TE Connectivity’s 2Pro AC Devices Deliver Enhanced Protection in A Single Component
Gore Protective Vent Improves Reliability of Electronic Displays
USB Panel-Mount PCB Connectors Added to L-com Lineup
Industry News
Calendar of Events
Research & Development

Electronics Protection - January/February 2013