Data Centers: Energy Management & Sustainability Strategies

Understand energy consumption in data centers – from IT loads to cooling and support systems.

Analyze the “anatomy” of a data center – exploring white space, gray space, and the role of servers, storage, networking, and cooling.

Apply efficiency metrics such as Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) to evaluate and track performance.

Implement best-practice strategies including hot aisle/cold aisle design, containment, raised floors, economizers, and cooling optimization.

Explore alternative technologies such as liquid cooling, fuel cells, solar integration, seawater cooling, and microgrids.

Develop plans for existing and new facilities that balance cost, performance, and resilience while overcoming common barriers like first-cost bias.      

By completing this training, attendees will:

• Gain practical tools to identify low-cost, high-impact efficiency upgrades.
• Learn future-proofing strategies to prepare for rapid growth in data and AI workloads.
• Understand how to cut operating costs while improving uptime and reliability.
• Enhance their ability to align sustainability goals with business priorities.
• Build confidence in navigating technical, financial, and organizational challenges of data center upgrades.

• Why Are We Here?
  Data Center energy trends and current state
  
• Anatomy of a Data Center
  The Pieces and parts that make up a data center
  
• Data Center Energy Basics
  How data centers use, save, and waste energy
  
• The Energy Efficient Data Center
  What can we do to save energy in our data centers
  
• Into the Future
  Emerging technologies and tactics in data center energy
  
• Quick Hits
  Some quick tips to use when considering data center retrofits and  design.

This program is designed for a wide range of professionals, including:

• Data center operators and managers
• Facility engineers, energy managers, energy engineers, operations managers and utility professionals
• IT professionals responsible for infrastructure performance
• Designers, consultants, and contractors in mission critical facilities
• Sustainability and corporate responsibility leaders

COURSE LEVEL:
Data center operators, MEP contractors, business development professionals, and energy professionals from a cross section of sectors will all benefit from the materials presented in this course. At 1000-level, participants are expected to be nominally conversant in the basics of current technologies like HVAC, controls, and basic building science. No advanced knowledge is necessary to get the most from this course.

Andrew Vaillencourt is a second-generation energy professional who walked his first facility at the age of twelve. As part of numerous consulting firms, utilities, and ESCO’s, Andrew has provided valuable and actionable energy efficiency services for customers in virtually every type of industry. A frequent speaker at energy events and conferences, Andrew explores the often-predatory marketplace of energy conservation in his book, Silver Bullets: (And Other Energy Efficiency Myths and Magic.  (Available from all fine online booksellers).

As president and principal of SRG Energy Efficiency Services, Andrew continues to serve the energy efficiency marketplace as a trusted consultant, trainer, and building-science subject matter expert. His clients cover a wide swath of the energy and sustainability landscape, including technology start-ups, ESCOs, and sustainability-minded companies all over the world.  In addition, Andrew leads a team that can help commercial & institutional customers with all levels of ASHRAE energy audits, feasibility studies, operation cost assessments, energy modeling, scoping, pricing, and project management, as well as provide owner’s (end user) representation.