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7X24MAGAZINE SPRING2014
ModularDataCenterTechnology
ImprovesWIthAge
i
byBobKirkendall
Sincemodulardatacentersbegan
attractinga lotofattentionaround
2007,modularproducersanddata
centerownershavedoneanadmirable
jobofworking together toenhance the
strengthsandmitigate theweaknesses
of themodularapproach.
The timing is ideal forcontinued
refinementof thisapproach—an
approachwith thepotential to
significantly improvemodulardata
centerperformancewell into the future
as thedemand fordatamanagement
surges. It isverypossible thatwewill
lookbackon thisera inourhistoryasa
watershed forcorporateacceptanceof
thekindofgreen technologies
epitomizedbymodulardatacenters.
Certainly the temperamental climate
among thecorporateworld is ina
receptivemood formodular
alternatives.
It isanera inwhich IBMhaspledged to
reduce its total energyconsumptionby
3.5%annuallyand reduce itsannual
waterconsumptionby2%eachyear.
A timewhen Intel hasbecome the
largestvoluntarypurchaserof “green”
power in theU.S. andvowed todesign
allof itsbuildings toaminimumLEED
®
Silver standardand reduce itsCO2
footprintby20%.
A timewhenProcter&Gamblehas
statedagoalofLEEDcertifyingallof its
manufacturingplants, distribution
centersandofficebuildings, have30%
of itsenergyderived from renewable
resourcesby2030anddivert99.5%of
all itsmanufacturingwaste from landfill
by2020.
A timewhenMicrosofthasvowed to
reduce itsCO2emissionsby30%per
unitof revenueandUnileverhasstated
that “all newlybuilt factorieswill aim to
have less thanhalf the impactofcurrent
ones.”
Theseareambitiouscommitments
frommajorentitieswithmassiveglobal
influence.Andwecanbesure that such
ambitiouspledgesare just the tipofa
veryhefty iceberg.
That’sbecauseeveryone iseager to
jumpaboard the “green train.”Nobody
wants tobeknownas theonewho
missed thatparticular train.
Eachof theabovecompanieshas
differentapproaches theyare taking to
achieve their sustainabilitygoals, each
responding to theuniqueneedsof the
products theyproduce.
Butone thing theyall have incommon
witheachother, andeveryother
company in theworld, is theirgrowing
need tomanagedata.As thisneed
expands, itmakessense that interest in
modulardatacenter solutionsexpands
aswell.
It’sanapproach that’semerging ina
surprisingvarietyofmarkets inaddition
to thedatacentermarket.
Modular laboratories isonesuchgame-
changingexample. Thesehavebeen
developed forpharmaceutical research,
nanotechnology research, evenamajor
confectionarycompanyseekinga
modulardesign forascalable,
sustainable factory thatcanbe readily
adapted todifferent international
locations.
A largeenergycompany recently
turned toamodular solution for the
upgradeofa laboratory inCanada’s
northcountry.Knowinghow toughand
expensive itcanbe toperform
construction insuchaharsh, remote
locationwhereconstruction laborcan
range from$180 to$250perhour, this
companyshipped inpre-manufactured
modularunits thatcouldbestitched
