The new design boasts several sustainability feats.
The design team helped Dell Technologies to minimize up-front costs and support future growth.
To achieve this, the new center’s electrical systems allow additional unit substations with large transformers to be inserted as needed through back-of-house electrical rooms, leaving intact the electrical infrastructure in the labs and data centers.
The design reduces the downtime required for additional power increases. It also eliminates disturbances to the built environment, preventing revenue loss. Efficiency is further improved by reducing the number of electrical transformations. The unit substations stepped down the medium voltage from the utility directly to the voltage needed at the rack level.
Using an existing building avoids the carbon implications of a greenfield project and minimizes environmental impacts.
One inch of rain on the center’s roof results in 280,000 gallons for potential water reuse.
Project phases I and II developed a rainwater collection system to support domestic water fixtures. As such, the project achieves a 40% reduction in potable water usage. Low-flow water closets, waterless urinals, and no permanent irrigation system helps conserve a further 38% of water.
To create an efficient airflow system, the team took a holistic, mechanical design approach.
The data center allows for equipment migration and new technologies on an as-needed basis.
Dell Technologies can now leverage their IT resources to deliver in days what previously took months.
Phases I and II were completed under budget and ahead of schedule.
Dell Technologies saved $104.5 million through capital expenditure avoidance, lowered energy costs, and increased space efficiencies. Energy use was reduced by 34% and the carbon footprint was shrunk by nearly 100 million pounds of CO2. The project realized $660,000 in energy rebates from the local utility company due to its energy-efficient design. Phase III is in progress as a study and conceptual design aimed to further increase rack power densities for next-generation server equipment loads.
