The University of Chicago
Data centers in a century-old campus
Case Study | December 2022
The University of Chicago has multiple data centers scattered across its century-old campus. We spoke with Raymond Parpart, the university's Director of Data Center Strategy & Operations, to learn more about the data centers' unorthodox methods to achieve the university's sustainability initiatives.
Eight Simple Rules
Omdia Research highlights new rules for sustainability
Omdia Research | November 2022
Vladimir Galabov, Research Director at Omdia, provides a summary of data center sustainability best practices, including advice and recommendations to data center operators.
Making Data Centers Green
The Quest for Sustainability in the Modern Data Center
Whitepaper | October 2022
Authors Steven Hill and Liz Cruz have interviewed and analyzed the responses of a dozen carefully selected data center operators regarding their approach to sustainability. This report outlines the themes, general trends, and green initiatives discussed within these interviews, and identifies eight key categories where sustainability goals can be met within data centers of nearly every size.
Digital Fortress
Keeping it cool, sustainably
Case Study | September 2022
Digital Fortress is a data center provider that was recently awarded a DEEP Gold Certification. Located in Portland, Oregon, its Data Center 1 was certified largely due to its innovative approach to cooling. Dale Powlison, Critical Facilities Manager at Digital Fortress, gave us insight into his company's green initiatives and the unique benefits that a DEEP certification can provide.
Physical Systems
Best Practices for Sustainable Systems
Blog | August 2022
DEEP offers assistive criteria on how to optimize a data center’s mechanical systems not only to promote sustainability, but to also improve efficiency and lower potential operating costs. This post discusses other best practices in order to improve your data center’s mechanical systems.
Electrical Systems
Best Practices for Sustainable Systems
Blog | August 2022
DEEP highlights its assessment criteria for data center electrical systems, including high-efficiency UPS, Energy Star-rated IT, automated electrical reporting, virtualization of power, energy management system, and smart rPDUs. Data centers are notoriously expensive to operate due to high power consumption, so these best practices are designed to identify sustainable elements and pinpoint how operating costs can be minimized.
Airflow Management
Best Practices for Sustainable Operations
Blog | July 2022
DEEP has a strong focus on airflow management. Assessment criteria include containment, rack inlet temperatures, perforated tiles, temperature monitoring, and more. While mechanical and electrical improvements involve high costs for the data center, airflow management improvement costs are far less, while some can be done with no financial investment at all.
DEEP Underground
Operating from a subterranean biosphere
Case Study | May 2022
We spoke with Todd Murren -- General Manager of Bluebird Underground, a state-of-the-art data center buried 85 feet underground in the corner of a disused 5 million-square-foot limestone mine -- to find out why the data center is underground and how it helps Bluebird Underground achieve more sustainable operations and lower carbon emissions.
A DEEP Customer Story
DC BLOX Data Center Sustainability Journey
Article | June 2022
DC BLOX has always taken their responsibility to the local environments of the communities they serve seriously. Although they have always focused on data center operational efficiency, they recently began formalizing the goals, programs, and actions necessary to ensure they achieve their sustainability objectives over time. Read how DEEP played a role in this important intiative.
The Need for a New Industry Metric
Toward a Framework for Data Center Sustainability
Whitepaper | May 2022
The time has come for the data center industry to up its game and create a system that enables greater visibility and accountability in fighting climate change. This report discussed the drivers for a new framework to assess and certify data center sustainability and provides tips for all data centers of all sizes to implement best practices in sustainability.
From Energy Star to DEEP
Making Data Centers More Efficient
News | April 2022
An interview by Max Smolaks with data center sustainability consultant, Andrew Fanara. They discuss the evolution of green IT and the need for a framework like DEEP, which looks beyond power consumption to aspects such as water conservation and electronic recycling programs.
Sustainability Framework Formally Peer-Reviewed
Industry Experts Meet to Define and Validate Data Center Sustainability Framework
Press | April 2022
A dozen of the industry’s greatest minds met for a half-day workshop to peer review and validate a framework designed to quantify and simplify data center sustainability duriing Data Center World 2022. They were tasked with thinking about best practices for sustainability across four key categories: airflow management, electrical systems, mechanical systems, and processes.
Data Center World 2022
What is DEEP?
News | April 2022
Introducing a new industry framework that hopes to encourage better sustainability practices in enterprise and hyperscale data centers.
Testimonial | Seeking a Sustainability Benchmark
A discussion of the DEEP certification process & benefits
Video | March 2022
DC BLOX VP of Marketing & Product Management, William A. Thomson, discusses the benefits of getting the DC BLOX data center DEEP certified.