The Hanover Insurance Group was looking to improve their data center’s cooling efficiency, as well as the current system’s capacity – while allowing for increased IT (Information Technology) equipment densities within their data center at their headquarters in Worcester, MA.
EEC, working closely with The Hanover, recommended a unique solution that could not only save energy and eliminate hot spots, but also maximize IT cooling capacity in the data center. The system featured a series of networked underfloor and overhead air movers, server rack and Computer Room Air Conditioner (CRAC) temperature sensors, sensor hubs, CRAC controllers and Environmental Management Software.
The Challenge:
- Integrate new energy-efficiency technology within the data center, without affecting day-to-day operations
- Eliminate all the data center’s hot spots
- Achieve all this without making major changes to the existing data center infrastructure
- Meet the Company’s less-than-24-months economic payback criteria
Summary of Project:
- Cost of project: $144,000.00
- Estimated annual savings: 600,000 kWh
- Utility incentive: $21,500.00
- Company payback: 16 months (with rebate)
Benefits:
- Five out of 13 CRAC units were placed into hot-standby, and energy usage for cooling the data center was reduced by 27%
- Increased cooling redundancy
- Increased IT load capacity by 70kW
- IT equipment is thermally safe
- 24x7 monitoring allowing for automated CRAC unit response
- Energy incentive from the National Grid Commercial Energy Efficiency Program
