Tech Vault Inc in South Burlington has expanded its reliable, secure and energy-efficient data center. Tech Vault, a commercial data center in Vermont, is designed to provide reliable, secure data hosting and disaster recovery services for all-sized companies in an energy-efficient and sustainable environment.
Typically, data centers use significant amounts of energy to operate ‘ and to cool the massive computer servers that are needed to process the data. Working with Leading Edge Design Group (Enfield, NH) and Efficiency Vermont, Tech Vault created a secure, reliable and energy-efficient environment ‘ an attractive combination for companies with data hosting or disaster recovery computing needs who also want to reduce their carbon footprint.
‘Usually, data centers prioritize only reliability and system redundancy, and environmental sustainability is an afterthought,’ said Todd Boucher, principal at Leading Edge Design Group. ‘Tech Vault didn’t sacrifice energy efficiency while building its state-of-the-art data center.’
System redundancy is a key component of a data center. In a ‘redundant system,’ critical computing components are duplicated to increase the reliability of the system, providing a secure backup, or fail-safe, to protect stored data.
Tech Vault’s energy-efficient data center employs a state-of-the-art cooling system to remove the heat created by the servers. This includes high-efficiency chillers and a waterside economizer that draws in cooler outside air, as well as a process known as in-row cooling.
According to Tech Vault, data centers traditionally rely on fans and large computer room air conditioners, or ‘CRACs,’ pushing large amounts of air underneath a raised floor to cool the massive server heat load. With in-row cooling, the cooling units are placed ‘in row’ and adjacent to IT equipment racks. Cool air is evenly distributed from the in row cooling units to the front of the IT racks and hot air that is exhausted from the back of the IT equipment is immediately captured by the return of the in row cooling unit. The in row cooling units constantly monitor the rack inlet and return air temperatures and modulate their output on-demand to provide only the cooling that is required. This process increases the efficiency of the system and reduces the energy required to cool the data center.
In addition to the cooling system, Tech Vault also incorporated high-efficiency lighting into its data center.
The company estimates that it will save 20-30 percent in energy use compared to the average data center. Cost savings on electrical use are estimated at $15,000 for the first year of operation and could reach $140,000 annually, if the center operates at its maximum capacity.
‘We think that we’ve found a formula for local, regional and national companies searching for highly secure commercial data center and processing in a sustainable environment,’ said Steve Loyer, president at Tech Vault. ‘When IT folks see the safety and security we offer combined with the energy-efficient technology, they just say ‘Wow!’‘
Loyer noted that there is a strong market for environmentally-friendly fully managed data centers, and Vermont is an ideal place to host this service.
Tech Vault is pursuing LEED Gold certification for Data Centers, a formidable challenge given how much energy typical data centers use. The LEED program, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, is an internationally-recognized green building certification, providing third-party verification of environmental stewardship. Tech Vault has worked closely with Efficiency Vermont to prepare for LEED Gold certification, one of the first data centers in New England to do so.
‘Efficiency Vermont is thrilled that Tech Vault chose energy efficiency as a key component of its new data center from the outset,’ said Jay Pilliod, director of business energy services at Efficiency Vermont. ‘Ultimately, Tech Vault’s focus on energy efficiency will provide long-term environmental benefits to the company and its customers in a highly-secure location.’
Attendees pictured include: Michael Smith, FairPoint; Dail Zimmermann, Level 3; Adam Cole, Cole Electric; Betsy Bishop, Vermont Chamber of Commerce; Steve Loyer, Tech Vault; Gov. Jim Douglas; Tyler Frink, APC; Liam O'Farrell, Mountain Air Systems; Todd Boucher, Leading Edge Design; and Brennan McCarthy, Level 3.
Source: Tech Vault. September 15, 2010 ‘ South Burlington, VT
Efficiency Vermont was created by the Vermont Legislature and the Vermont Public Service Board to help all Vermonters reduce energy costs, strengthen the economy, and protect Vermont's environment. Efficiency Vermont is currently operated by Vermont Energy Investment Corporation (VEIC), an independent organization under contract to the Vermont Public Service Board. VEIC is a Vermont-based nonprofit organization founded in 1986. For more information, contact Efficiency Vermont at 888-921-5990 or visit www.efficiencyvermont.com.