Syracuse U Aims for Greener Data Center

Syracuse University is teaming with IBM and the state of New York to build what it expects to be one of the most energy-efficient data centers in the world.

According to information released by the university today, the 6,000-square-foot data center will use advanced construction and IBM technologies to help bring energy use in the facility down to about 50 percent of what's used in a "typical data center today."

Some of the innovations being built into the data center include an electrical co-generation system that uses a "microturbine" running off natural gas to provide electricity for the servers and cooling systems; monitoring of server temperature via computer-controlled sensors to apply cooling only to servers that need it; a new liquid cooling system that, as IBM described it, "will use an adsorption chiller unit to convert the heat generated by the microturbine into chilled water to cool the data center's servers and adjacent building"; a direct current power distribution system; and IBM Rear Door Heat eXchanger technology to reduce server heat output.

Nancy Cantor, chancellor and president of Syracuse U, said that the effort is part of the university's Scholarship in Action initiative, which looks to create collaborative partnerships with outside organizations and companies to "enrich scholarship and education and address the pressing issues of the world."

"This project yields benefits in every direction imaginable--just as Scholarship in Action aspires to do," Cantor said in a statement released Friday. "It's a perfect example of how effective cross-sector partnerships can be. IBM, [New York State Energy Research and Development Authority] and SU each are bringing their strengths to the table to gain vital insight into solving crucial aspects of the intensifying global problem of increasing energy consumption that none of us could achieve separately. Best of all, the solutions we find ultimately will serve the public good."

IBM, for its part, is providing more than $5 million in equipment and support, including IBM BladeCenter, Power 575, and z10 systems. NYSERDA is pumping $2 million into the project.

The data center will also be used as a laboratory in which Syracuse U will research and develop energy efficiency modeling and analysis tools.

"Energy use is becoming the largest single cost in operating data centers, and IBM is dedicated to helping customers reduce electricity consumption to benefit their businesses and the environment," said Vijay Lund, vice president for development and manufacturing operations in IBM's Systems and Technology Group, also in a statement released today. "IBM is joining with Syracuse University to address the end-to-end data center infrastructure, from electricity generation to cooling systems to the operation and management of servers, to develop the greenest, most efficient data center possible."

The new data center is expected to be completed by the end of 2009. It will cost about $12.4 million.

Syracuse U serves about 18,000 students and employs 1,400 faculty members.

About the Author

David Nagel is the former editorial director of 1105 Media's Education Group and editor-in-chief of THE Journal, STEAM Universe, and Spaces4Learning. A 30-year publishing veteran, Nagel has led or contributed to dozens of technology, art, marketing, media, and business publications.

He can be reached at [email protected]. You can also connect with him on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidrnagel/ .


Featured

  • glowing brain, connected circuits, and abstract representations of a book and graduation cap on a light gray gradient background

    Snowflake Launches Program to Upskill 100,000 People in Data and AI

    Cloud data platform Snowflake is embarking on an effort to train and certify more than 100,000 users on its AI Data Cloud by 2027. The One Million Minds + One Platform program will provide Snowflake-delivered courses, training materials, and free access to Snowflake software, at no cost to learners.

  • two abstract humanoid figures made of interconnected lines and polygons, glowing slightly against a dark gradient background

    Microsoft Introduces Copilot Chat Agents for Education

    Microsoft recently announced Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat, a new pay-as-you-go offering that adds AI agents to its existing free chat tool for Microsoft 365 education customers.

  • hand touching glowing connected dots

    Registration Now Open for Tech Tactics in Education: Thriving in the Age of AI

    Tech Tactics in Education has officially opened registration for its May 7 virtual conference on "Thriving in the Age of AI." The annual event, brought to you by the producers of Campus Technology and THE Journal, offers hands-on learning and interactive discussions on the most critical technology issues and practices across K–12 and higher education.

  • Three cubes of noticeably increasing sizes are arranged in a straight row on a subtle abstract background

    A Sense of Scale

    Gardner Campbell explores the notion of scale in education and shares some of his own experience "playing with scale" — scaling up and/or scaling down — in an English course at VCU.