JISC

Overview

Project
Blog This project (RARE-IDC) will build on work already underway throughout Hertfordshire University’s estates to explore the issues of reducing energy usage for cooling data centres and the reuse of heat generated from ICT equipment. As well as contributing to reducing the cost of ownership of University estates, the RARE-IDC project will provide environmental sustainability with innovative green practices for minimising the carbon footprint, which can transfer across to all new ICT space.

The project works within the JISC Institutional Innovation Programme and will help to take forward the national development of the Green Agenda, demonstrating innovation and good practice, building knowledge and experience, which can be shared across institutions.

Aims and Objectives

The aims of this project are: to develop 21st Century Data Centres with:

• alternative cooling and energy provision to ensure that air flow and heat exchanging is more effective and efficient.
• a waste heat management system reusable within the University’s portfolio of estates and learning spaces
• reducing the total cost and amount of power actually required per m2 of data centre space
• identifying, evaluating and disseminating transferable good practice models in respect of the above
• working with the JISC community to share the experiences and approaches to assist other institutions to meet these goals

Project methodology

The project will be managed by Estates with Learning & Information Services (LIS) as the Senior Customer. Phase 1 will be to setup all the project structures and methodologies; PID, Approach, Communications Plan.

Phase 2 will be the feasibility stage – in order to check out the existing, new and emerging technologies that we could implement as part of this project. Phase 3 builds on the feasibility study to construct the final design.

 Phase 4 is analysis and dissemination of findings and conclusions, culminating in presentations at appropriate seminars and forums.

Anticipated outputs and outcomes

• Report detailing the solution for a Green data centre for the University of Hertfordshire, with a detailed analysis on why this option was chosen over the other available options.
• • Internal fluid dynamics analysis report to allow specific tailored changes to be made intra-data centre to improve cooling efficacy 
• Detailed guide for other institutions to follow to achieve the same levels of cooling, power and waste heat management efficacy 
• Report on adoption of current and emerging green standards and UH compliance with them. 
• External promotion and dissemination 
• Report on usage and impact measures
• Reports on transferable good practice models

Technology / Standards used

• EU Code of Conduct for Data Centres
• TIA942
• ASHRAE
• EN 50173/4