Datacenter migration, efficiency and sustainability steps

Datacenter migration, experts predict that the data center will use three times more energy in the next ten years, making it more important for data center providers to find it more efficient than ever. Data center operators also require that important energy and electrical data be viewed around the clock to make informed decisions about server loads and optimize power capacity.

The adoption of validated protection measures and the need to meet ISO 50001 and other energy performance standards have led to more sophisticated energy consumption reporting in the industry. In addition, the adoption of carbon emission targets and reporting in the data center area is increasing as sustainable development of enterprises shifts from sustainable strategies to business strategies.
Despite the growing demand for efficient and sustainable business, a recent study found that most of the organizations failed to implement the necessary steps to integrate and promote their projects. In fact, most enterprises still use considerable traditional energy and carbon emission management methods, and few enterprises coordinate the activities between the procurement, operation and sustainable development sectors. This way of disconnection will hinder investment return (ROI).
However, a UK hosted cloud computing service provider has turned its energy management challenge into an opportunity, with substantial cost savings. IOmart is a rapidly developing cloud computing company, recognized by some of the world's major cloud computing providers (including Microsoft, VMware, EMC, and AWS) as Tier One partners. With the continuous development of enterprises, the company is applying the guiding principles of sustainable development to the organization of customers themselves. A successful solution to get more efficient, lower cost and greater flexibility can save a lot of cost.
How does the company achieve this feat? IOmart company, in collaboration with Schneider electric, has established a strategic and comprehensive approach to energy management and carbon emissions management in its data center. More specifically, it combines procurement, energy, and sustainable development teams to compare data and develop sharing strategies to manage energy consumption and carbon emissions and reduce expenditure. This integrated approach, also known as active energy management, ultimately helps reduce energy use, meet energy compliance standards, and manage unstable energy costs.
The following are the four main steps taken by IOmart to share key information between departments and to use energy procurement data to support energy and sustainable development reports.
• the first step: more intelligent purchase of energy. The company's first challenge is to reduce energy costs by strategically purchasing energy. Schneider Electric helped deploy risk management solutions that responded flexibly to the market, saving 13% of the contract costs. With the early success of using a more intelligent approach to buying energy, the team hopes to build a more strategic and comprehensive approach to other energy and sustainable development opportunities.
• the second step: meeting the standards of energy and sustainability. Energy efficiency and sustainability goals are integrated to meet voluntary and mandatory standards, including climate change agreements, carbon reduction commitments and ISO 50001. Sharing data between departments is essential for regulatory purposes, including the use of energy procurement data to support energy and sustainable development reporting. IOmart won ISO 50001 certification in December 2016, indicating that its commitment to clients as a responsible data center provider has so far saved 1 million 500 thousand euros. Stringent regulation, energy consumption, PUE monitoring and tax rebate benefits contributed to these cost savings.
Step third: conduct audits to identify potential savings. Energy audit is part of the ISO 50001 certification process, revealing new energy saving opportunities.  Through a continuous efficiency approach, IOmart identified the potential for further cost savings of 150,000, and monitoring showed more opportunities for savings.  Energy saving opportunities include the management of existing cooling systems and upgrading of the set points and dead zones of air conditioning units.
• fourth step: use software to enable transparency. IOmart continues to create new opportunities through comprehensive decision-making. It supports this work by using advanced tools and analysis, recognition and prioritization improvements. Resource Advisor is a software platform for enterprise energy and sustainable development data management that allows enterprise automation processes, supports compliance teams, and visualizes data to translate information into action.
The result is self-evident. IOmart can now effectively manage the energy consumption of its data centers and make informed decisions in the short, medium and long term. The success of the method is the integration of the personnel and the strategy. Starting from energy procurement, increasing efficiency and sustainability, gathering teams and working closely with the financial sector of the enterprise can achieve impressive results.
When companies operate projects in isolated islands, they lose their income or cost savings, and this is a significant gap for those who want to balance their profitability and environmental responsibility. Integrated energy and carbon management provides a holistic view of data and resources to reduce consumption, promote innovation, and maximize cost savings.
By adopting a strategic, holistic approach to improving efficiency and sustainability, IOmart will become a model for other organizations to start seeking a positive energy management tour.