Stimulus for companies to improve energy efficiency in IT systems

Stimulus for companies to improve energy efficiency in IT systems

The U.S. Department of Energy is offering $47 million for projects across the country to support the development of new technologies that improve energy efficiency in the IT and communication technology sectors. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), also known as the Stimulus Program, will fund the research for development and demonstration projects in three subject areas: equipment and software, power supply chain, and cooling. The energy efficiency projects target reducing energy use and carbon pollution, while helping to develop a competitive domestic industry. As part of this funding, Eaton is collaborating with Hewlett-Packard to improve energy efficiency in information technology (IT) systems. Among the 14 projects chosen by the U.S. Department of Energy, the joint proposal from Eaton and HP was selected as the third-largest grant recipient at $7.4 million.

The joint project from Eaton and HP will develop a fully enclosed IT rack system that provides its own internal power and cooling. High voltage and chilled water will act as the primary inputs to the system, and it will also accept alternative energy power sources, such as wind and solar power. A major benefit of this system is a 38% reduction in energy use to support a 100-kW IT load, which equals a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 400 tons annually. These new technologies will help businesses reduce power consumption, lower costs, extend the life of data centers, and decrease the need for new facilities.