Commercial, Demand Management, Energy Efficiency, GHG Emissions  -  January 19, 2016

Data center company Digital Realty receives EPA recognition for cutting emissions

Digital Realty Trust Inc., a data center solutions and services provider based in San Francisco, recently earned U.S. EPA Energy Star certification for its facility in Lithia Springs, Ga.

Digital Realty is also a U.S. DOE's Better Buildings Challenge partner. The EPA certification acknowledges that the facility operates in the top quartile of data centers nationwide in terms of energy efficiency, and contributes 35% fewer greenhouse gas emissions than similar noncertified facilities within the U.S.

The company earned the Energy Star distinction through a combination of retrofit projects and best energy practices, including the installation of modulating electronically commutated fan motors on critical air conditioners, the use of variable speed pumping, and raised supply air set points to improve cooling efficiency, according to a Better Buildings blog post. Digital Realty collaborated with the Lithia Springs data center’s primary customer to implement these energy management improvements. The company plans to look for similar partnership opportunities with customers at its other facilities.

As a Better Buildings Challenge partner, Digital Realty is committed to reducing the energy intensity of its entire data center portfolio by 20% over a 10-year period ending in 2024. Digital Realty has already reduced energy consumption by 6% compared to a 2013 baseline.  With plans to continually invest in efficiency improvements across its 24-MW nationwide Better Buildings portfolio, Digital Realty will be completing more efficiency upgrades in the coming years.

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