Green Grid launches raft of efficiency initiatives

The Green Grid hopes to build on its success in 2009

The Green Grid, an industry body aimed at helping datacentres monitor and reduce power use, has launched a series of initiatives designed to help its members further improve efficiencies.

The group said that two online tool kits will be available from its web site by the end of the first quarter. The first is a power energy estimator (PEE) and the second a power usage effectiveness (PUE) calculator.

The PEE compares various power inputs, such as workload, availability and space constraints, to generate a report that gives datacentre operators a better understanding of the power they are using, the group said.

Similarly, the PUE calculator allows datacentre operators to input a facility's specific data at regular intervals to determine the power effectiveness by dividing the amount of power entering a datacentre by the power used to run the infrastructure.

The group has also launched an online course called Data Centre 101: Constrained Capacity aimed at providing operators with a better understanding of industry terms and ways to solve everyday challenges.

Jon Haas, vice chairman of the Green Grid's technical committee, argued that the industry must have a common understanding of key terms.

"The Green Grid operators are in a unique position, so it is important that we use a common vocabulary with consistent and defined terms to help datacentre managers communicate with understanding on issues affecting their operations," he said.

A new white paper has also been made available to members and non-members on the Green Grid's web site to provide guidance on maximising savings in the use of cooling equipment where virtualisation is being used.

Green Grid board member Kathrin Winkler hopes that the new initiatives will add to the momentum built up in 2009.

"Despite the recession, commitment to the Green Grid's cause remained strong last year, and we hope the new launches today give datacentre companies further ability to better manage and improve power usage, and so reduce carbon outputs, " she said.

The organisation also announced an alliance with Data Centre Pulse, a global end user community of 1,250 datacentre owners, to further enhance its reach to key companies.

Finally, the Green Grid has published a book entitled Real Time Energy Consumption Measurements in Data Centres in association with the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers which is free to members.