Data Center Energy Performance Self Benchmarking

Steven G. Liescheidt, P.E., CCS, CCPR

Course Outline

This two hour online course discusses how documentation of data center performance benchmarking results allows a facility’s efficiency to be determined and compared against similar facilities on a system-by-system basis.

This course includes a multiple-choice quiz at the end, which is designed to enhance the understanding of course materials.

Learning Objective

At the conclusion of this course, the student will learn about:

• Benchmarking goals;
• Installing and using monitoring equipment;
• Obtaining documentation data;
• Creating a site-specific monitoring plan;
• Analyzing data; and
• Comparing data center best practices.
  
  

Intended Audience

This course is intended for mechanical and electrical engineers.

Benefit for Attendee

Attendee of this course will be able to better understand how to benchmark data center energy use and to use this information in other data center designs.

Course Introduction

In order to optimize any system, or combination of systems working together such as those found in a typical data center, it is crucial to accurately assess its current performance. The source material used in this course is a guide that is intended to show data center operators, or their contractors, how to perform a comprehensive measurement, or benchmarking, of their own facilities’ energy use.

Course Content

This course is primarily based on Self Benchmarking Guide For Data Center Energy Performance, Version 1.0, May 2006, Ernest Orlando Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory:

Data Center Energy Performance Self Benchmarking

Please click on the above underlined hypertext to view, download or print the document for your study. Because of the large file size, we recommend that you first save the file to your computer by right clicking the mouse and choosing "Save Target As ...", and then open the file in Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you still experience any difficulty in downloading or opening this file, you may need to close some applications or reboot your computer to free up some memory.

Course Summary

Optimizing a complex system such as a data center in order to minimize operating costs and maximize capacity and reliability requires that its performance be measured. The benchmarking procedure described in the guide used in this course shows a simple approach to making a detailed measurement of data center performance.

Related Links

For additional technical information related to this subject, please visit the following websites:

US Department of Energy – www.doe.gov
High-Performance Buildings For High-Tech Industries – http://hightech.lbl.gov/

Quiz

Once you finish studying the above course content, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.

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DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDH Center or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered architect and/or professional engineer/surveyor. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.

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