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Get in TouchEnergy-efficient practices have become pervasive in the data centre market as providers and customers alike strive to reduce their carbon footprint and meet corporate sustainability goals. Equinix is at the forefront of innovating and driving technologies that increase the efficiency of building, operating and running our data centres.
Our global International Business Exchange™ (IBX®) Operations and Engineering teams have implemented comprehensive conservation and efficiency programmes which include energy and water conservation, solid waste reduction, pollution prevention and recycling.
Deploying water-side and air-side economisers
Equinix is harnessing the natural cooling power of the ambient environment by deploying water-side and air-side economisers in our HVAC systems. This allows us to cool our data centres naturally by taking advantage of cooler ambient temperatures to reduce our reliance on energy-consuming compressors and chillers.
Installing Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs)
Variable frequency drives (VFDs) are deployed in chillers, pumps and fans in our HVAC systems. A VFD drive automatically reduces a motor’s speed and power draw when there is lower system load.
Deep Lake Water Cooling (DLWC)
Equinix uses an innovative cooling system to transfer energy between cold, deep lake water from Lake Ontario and a closed-loop chilled water supply. This requires less power than the compressors used in standard chilled water systems. Deep lake cooling saves energy and related green house emissions for our TR1 Toronto IBX data centre.
Cold Aisle Containment
Equinix deploys cold aisle containment infrastructure to support higher power density installations in our sites. Cold aisle containment uses a physical barrier to reduce the mixing of cold supply air and hot exhaust air in data centre aisles. This delivers lower energy consumption and more efficient cooling. Cold aisle containment is an effective energy-efficient solution for today’s higher power density infrastructure architectures.
LEED Certification
Our SV2 Silicon Valley and our DC6 Washington, DC IBX data centres are Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified. Equinix is committed to pursuing LEED certification for all its facilities. All new IBX data centres are evaluated for LEED certification during the design and construction process.
Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE)
Equinix supports, uses and is involved in the creation of industry-standard efficiency metrics, such as PUE, in cooperation with the US Environmental Prptection Agency, The Green Grid and other similar standards bodies. Equinix uses these efficiency metrics to benchmark our operations and accurately evaluate efficiency gains from infrastructure upgrades. We consistently evaluate the way in which we measure PUE and other metrics to ensure our findings are meaningful and consistent.
Retro-fitting IBXs with Compact Fluorescent light bulbs and LED lights
Equinix is retro-fitting IBX data centres with compact fluorescent light bulbs and LED lights which consume up to 75% less energy, last up to 10 times longer and produce more light per watt than incandescent bulbs.
Lighting Systems Operation
Equinix understands that small changes can generate significant energy savings. By installing motion-activated light controllers in our more than six million gross square feet (550,000 square meters) of global data centre capacity, we reduce the energy consumption and heat load in our sites.
Evaluating New Technologies, New Designs and Energy Options
Equinix is committed to continually evaluating new technologies, alternative energy options and new designs to operate our IBX data centres as efficiently as possible while maintaining the reliability our customers expect. Equinix Operations and Engineering teams conduct regular reviews of our premises to monitor and improve efficiency. The application of new technology is seen as critical in delivering optimal customer service.
Equinix is committed to improving energy efficiency within the data centre industry.
Member of The Green Grid — A global consortium dedicated to advancing energy efficiency in data centres and business computing ecosystems.
Participant in US Environmental Protection Agency Energy Star Data Centre Rating initiative— A data collection project which served as the foundation for the data centre-specific rating system - released in June 2010.
Equinix is registered with the UK Government CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme — a mandatory undertaking aimed at improving energy efficiency and cutting emissions in large public and private sector organisations.
Equinix employees are regular and proactive participants in industry associations such as the US Green Building Council and The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) which focus on issues of efficiency and sustainability.
Customers of European data centres face growing demands for compliance with environmental standards and for greater energy efficiency. Equinix is helping them navigate the new requirements, and seize the opportunities to improve energy efficiency, refine their green IT credentials, and cut costs.
DOWNLOADEquinix is at the forefront of innovating and driving technologies that increase the efficiency of building, operating and running our data centres.
DOWNLOADEquinix has been recognized around the world for its energy efficiency initiatives.
2010 LEED Certification — Our SV2 Santa Clara IBX centre achieved LEED Certification in 2010 for improving performance across all of the following metrics: energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reductions and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts on the environment.
2008 Green Award – Equinix gained special distinction by winning the first ever Data centres Europe Green Award. This award was presented at Data centres Europe, the annual industry event held in London for business leaders in the data centre sector.
Naturemade Star – All of Equinix’s Swiss IBX’s use 100% green power electricity from energy providers that have been certified with the Naturemade Star label.
Energy Innovator Award – Silicon Valley Power awarded Equinix the Energy Innovator Award for energy efficiency enhancements to the SV2 IBX. Equinix implemented a number of upgrades which included air-side economizers, variable frequency drive （VFD） fans and LED light fixtures. These systems resulted in energy savings of more than 4,000,000 kWh per year.
Equinix （Switzerland） AG voluntarily joins the programme of the Swiss Private Sector Energy Agency and commits itself to the active reduction of Co2 emissions and to the optimization of energy efficiency.