BGE | Pepco | Delmarva | SMECO
Data Centers: Tremendous Growth | Energy Needs | Critical Infrastructure | Sustainability Issues
Earn 4 PDH | .4 CEU
To hold a private course for your team or customers, contact patty@pbjmediaholdings.com
ABOUT THE COURSE
In today’s digital economy, data centers are the beating heart of every industry—yet they are also some of the largest energy consumers worldwide. With rising demand from AI, cloud services, autonomous vehicles, IoT, and digital infrastructure, energy efficiency has become a critical priority for both cost savings and sustainability.
This professional development program equips participants with the knowledge and strategies to design, operate, and optimize data centers for maximum energy efficiency. Through a blend of practical strategies, case studies, and forward looking insights, attendees will gain actionable expertise to improve operational performance, reduce costs, and future-proof their facilities.
KEY LEARNING OBJECTIVES - Participants will learn how to:
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.
BENEFITS OF ATTENDING
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.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
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 OUTLINE:
- 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.
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.
ABOUT INSTRUCTOR
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.
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