High Performance Data Centers Author:Huston Eubank, Joel Swisher, Cameron Burns, Jen Seal, and Ben Emerson. In February 2003, Rocky Mountain Institute convened an innovative whole-system design charrette (Data Center Charrette) to challenge the current model for data centers and develop a groundbreaking data center design a clean-sheet model with no compromises. We brought together about ninety high-level, broad-thinking, technically deep industry exp... more »erts with strategic visions in engineering, computer design, energy, data management, business, real estate, and facilities design to consider the challenge of data center energy consumption. Our goal was to leapfrog past incremental and individual efficiency improvements to advanced whole-systems design models models that ultimately cost less to build, work better, and save astonishing amounts of electricity (or are even net generators of electricity). By digging deeply into questions of technology choice, system integration, and business strategy, we discovered numerous and significant benefits for owners, developers, and designers of data centers, manufacturers of site infrastructure, computing equipment and components, utilities, and related industries. The result of this charrette was a data center design concept that reduces energy demand by an order of magnitude (89 percent) compared to today s standard designs, while providing equivalent computing power and greater reliability. This report, Design Recommendations for High-Performance Data Centers: Report of the Integrated Design Charrette, summarizes the discussions that took place and actions recommended. It is organized to follow the compounding savings from the native loads back up-stream toward the power source. Participants narrowed their focus to six topic areas: Native Loads (CPUs, Servers, etc.), Computer Power Supplies, Next Generation Cooling, Cooling (Heat Removal), Facility Power Supply, and Operations. There are more than fifty major recommendations. One goal of this report is to stimulate further examination of the various components of data centers and the energy they consume. It is essential that these components be designed and combined in an integrated or whole-systems fashion.« less