| In recent years, the computer data center has | | | | Many traditional data centers have reached the point |
| become one of the most conspicuous large | | | | that they force the customer to buy more space |
| consumers of electric power. Faster servers and | | | | than they need to get the power they need or |
| higher density equipment, such as blade servers, | | | | simply leave large portions of their floor space idle |
| have combined to create large issues for traditional | | | | because their antiquated AC power distribution lacks |
| data centers, as well as increasing costs for data | | | | the capacity to supply or their HVAC systems lack |
| center customers. | | | | the capacity to remove the extra heat. |
| In the traditional data center, power is brought in as | | | | Data centers that are designed from the beginning |
| commercial AC from the local power utility. The | | | | with the capacity for DC power distribution give a |
| power is then converted to DC in the uninterruptible | | | | very efficient design, since they're not attempting to |
| power supply for it's batteries, then converted back | | | | retrofit an existing data center, and provide adequate |
| to AC for distribution to the servers and other | | | | capacity for all available space with room to grow to |
| equipment. In the equipment, the AC is once again | | | | meet the requirements of the next generation of |
| converted back to DC for the use of the equipment. | | | | equipment. This also means less waste of power and |
| Each of these conversions from AC to DC or DC to | | | | less power spent removing the waste heat and this |
| AC adds an extra layer of complication and | | | | translates directly into cost savings for the customer. |
| inefficiency to the process. Every conversion wastes | | | | This also translates directly into environmental |
| power and the power is wasted as heat, which | | | | benefits. Less power consumption means less |
| requires more power to remove it from the data | | | | greenhouse gases created in generating the power |
| center. All of this adds cost directly to the bottom | | | | and less waste heat released into the environment |
| line which gets passed on as higher prices to the | | | | from operating inefficiently. |
| customer. | | | | |