Implement Solar-Powered Web Hosting

Information technology case study: Data center

A southern California data center is upping the green ante in the web hosting market with the first fully solar-powered data center.

Affordable Internet Services Online, or AISO.net, has achieved this feat through a creative blend of green design and leading-edge technologies. The 2,000-square-foot facility draws power from 120 solar panels, which supply electricity to both AISO's office and server farm.

Though located in the desert, a unique cooling system keeps the server room at a constant 65-70º F with minimal energy use. A water-cooled air conditioning system works in concert with natural air cooling. When the temperature outside drops to 50º F or below—as it frequently does at night—a custom cooling exchanger blows in filtered outside air.

Maximizing server capacity is also a factor in the AISO.net equation. Typical servers are assigned one specific task, which means that, on average, they operate at less than 10% capacity. AISO, on the other hand, uses virtualization software to allow one server to host multiple applications— achieving an impressive 75% capacity.

Additional features include:

• Solar tubes which pipe in natural light
• Twelve-inch walls and high grade insulation
• A green roof, currently in the design phase, that will further reduce its energy needs

Although the data center cost 60% more than a standard site to build, AISO.net CTO Phil Nail says the investment is paying off. The company is saving approximately $3,000 a month in utility bills and has cultivated a loyal base of 15,000 clients worldwide looking for greener web hosting.

Posted: 19-Nov-2008; Updated: 22-Jan-2009

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Find Out More

• Video: Tour AISO.net data center
• U.S. EPA Energy Star Standards for data centers
• Steps for implementation of energy efficiency data centers
• Green Grid report: Improving efficiency of data centers [PDF]
• Green Grid report: Making energy reductions [PDF]
• U.S. EPA: Saving energy with better servers and design

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