Improvements at the data center for Toyota Motor Sales USA Inc. should help decrease emissions and energy use, according to a press release.
Toyota is working with IBM and Southern California Edison on the project. Over a five-month period, IBM put its Measurement and Management Technologies tools to use in the project, trying to assess thermal readings from floor to ceiling. The tools helped create a 3-D chart to pinpoint power and cooling inefficiencies.
Toyota has reduced air conditioning units used by 30 percent while still achieving an overall reduction in hot spots, and keeping ambient temperature cool and constant throughout the facility, according to the release.
Further improvements to the data center include improved air flow management, reduced chilled air leakate and matching cooling capacities to the actual IT power consumption. The facility haslo now has a system that separates exhaust air and inlet temperatures within the data center.
Southern California Edison estimates that the improvements will save Toyota about 10 percent in energy costs.
In other news related to IBM, the company is working with utilities in the city of Austin, Texas, to implement a new billing system that will ease the transition to a smart grid. The billing system will provide customers with real-time information on their energy consumption.
Additionally, in smart grid news, GE is working with a resort area in Maui on a pilot program, according to AP.
