Sometimes it is only when you look back that you realize that the work we do is truly innovative – but I am lucky enough this time to see that some of the work is completely groundbreaking whilst actually doing the work.

I have been working on a project looking at the design of additional Data Center capacity for a client. The initial scope of work was focused on capturing the organizations requirements for a new data-center while working with a number of key industry partners to identify what a Data center of the future should really look like. This work on its own was great but some of the challenges that were presented from the client senior management have really pushed the boundaries of the data center design which I will discuss in later posts.

Clearly this blog is about Green IT and what links this project to the subject of Green IT is the way we have been looking at the efficiency of the building, not just from the traditional cooling aspect but also from the site configuration, operational approaches and core technology types. The requirements process for each component of the design identified solutions that required the least capital investment and the premium that would be paid to improve the efficiency environmentally, operationally or both.

The requirements will be passed on to the engineering organization as part of the statement of work for the design and should hopefully lead to a Data Center capacity that not only meets the technical needs of the client but also helps them achieve their environmental goals.

By Andrew Skinner, UK Data Center Technology & Operations