Some 98 percent of large corporations are planning to expand their data centers in 2013 or 2014, but just 14 percent of those named energy efficiency as the single most important factor influencing their expansion plan, according to research by Digital Realty Trust.
Security was named as the most influential reason for data center expansion, with 23 percent of respondents naming it as the most important factor influencing their decision making. Despite being named as the most important factor by just 14 percent of those respondents planning expansion, energy efficiency was the factor named by the second most respondents, according to the North America Campos Survey Results.
Energy efficiency in data centers is a goal but the average PUE has remained stable at 2.9 over the past five years, according to the research. However, data centers are being used more efficiently: power per square foot is going up while cooling efficiency is getting more attention , according to Digital Realty. Specifically, more are using hot or cold aisle containment; up to 80 percent this year compared to 74 percent in 2012.
When choosing a partner for a data center expansion project, that partner's use of energy efficiency options was the factor named as the most important by the second most respondents - chosen by 14 percent of respondents. A partners usage of the latest technology was the most popular factor - chosen by 18 percent.
A survey released last fall by Emerson Network Power claimed that data center energy costs and equipment efficiency are the top-of-mind issues for data center managers. The survey results show that, for the second time this year, energy efficiency, availability and infrastructure monitoring are foremost on the minds of data center professionals. When asked to identify their top three facility/network concerns, 48 percent of respondents cited energy efficiency, making it the leading response to the question for the first time since the survey began in 2005.
