Using a Data Center Upgrades Approach in Already Highly Efficient Buildings
ASHRAE Journal Technical Feature
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) reports that data centers have a substantially higher energy consumption of 10 – 50 times per square foot compared to typical commercial buildings, accounting for approximately 2% of the electricity consumed annually in the United States.1 As such, data centers present significant opportunities for energy savings and efficiency improvements, even in buildings that are already exceptionally energy efficient. This article presents a case study of a project undertaken to re-architect a data center, aiming to achieve substantial energy consumption reduction and enhance resilience in an already highly efficient building.