Victor Avelar, Director and Senior Research Analyst at Schneider Electric’s Data Center Science CenterBy focussing on the trade offs between mechanical load and electrical losses as a means to ensure energy efficiency, ASHRAE’s new Energy Standard for data centres is paving the way for industry best practices and a standards-based approach to data centre design.  Earlier this week a UK news article publicised a long awaited Energy Standard for Data Centres by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). Classed as Standard number 90.4-2016, it establishes the minimum energy efficiency requirements for data centres and includes recommendations on their design, construction, operation and maintenance as well as on the use of on-site and off-site renewable energy. ASHRAE’s earlier 90.1 standard applies to energy efficiency in buildings generally and is widely referred to in building regulations. 90.4 is a performance-based design standard and takes account special considerations affecting data centres, including variations in both mechanical load and electrical losses across different climate zones. Calculations for both electrical and mechanical components are made and then compared to the maximum allowable values for the appropriate climate zone. Compliance with the standard is achieved when the calculated values do not exceed the values contained in the standard. Crucially the new standard does not require a Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) rating to ensure compliance, although this was considered at an earlier stage of the drafting process. In this, the Society clearly recognises that energy management in data centres is a more complex problem than can be resolved with a single metric such as PUE, useful though that figure certainly is in guiding energy-efficiency efforts. Recent research detailed in Schneider Electric’s White Paper 221, ‘The Unexpected Impact of Raising Data Centre Temeperatures’, found that only a full understanding of the cooling and power infrastructure of the data centre AND the operational requirements of the IT equipment itself will yield optimum results in terms of efficiency and power consumption. Laying undue emphasis on a single metric such as PUE for efficiency, or on simple strategies such as allowing ambient temperatures to rise as a means of reducing overall power consumption are insufficient in themselves. The theory supporting raised temperatures is that cooling equipment can operate in economy mode and will not need to be used as frequently, resulting in a lower energy requirement. However, experience shows that the results of this strategy have been mixed. PUE has the advantage of simplicity, in that it represents efficiency as a single metric allowing data centre operators to measure the effectiveness of the power and cooling systems over time. However, it is quite limited as it measures only the relative difference between power consumed on IT equipment and the energy consumed on IT and infrastructure combined. Therefore,  lowering your PUE rating does not necessarily mean that your overall energy consumption has been reduced. In fact, PUE is only a measure of how efficient the physical infrastructure systems are in providing power to the IT load. It says nothing about the total energy being consumed by the data centre and is more indicative of a ratio, not a value that indicates a quantity of energy.  In essence your PUE can improve (i.e., power and cooling systems are more efficient) but your energy use throughout the data centre might be the same or higher. By allowing chillers to operate in economiser mode for a greater part of the year does indeed produce immediate energy savings, these are offset by the greater burden placed on other parts of the cooling infrastructure. Air coolers for example, must operate when the chillers are in economiser mode and the fans both in the server racks themselves and in the CRAH (computer room air handlers) units have to work harder, and use more energy, as temperature rises. Schneider Electric has completed studies of data centres in very different climactic regions and the consequences of allowing temperature to rise can vary greatly depending on the location and whether or not a data centre is operating at full load. When the data centre was operating at full load and temperatures were allowed to float between 15.6 and 25.7C, rather than be maintained at the lower level, energy efficiency and total cost of ownership were both improved in Seattle; energy efficiency improved slightly but total costs were unchanged in Chicago; and in Miami, a hotter climate, both efficiency and total costs were worsened. At half load, energy and total costs were improved in both Chicago and Seattle but they increased again in Miami. One reason for increased overall cost at high temperatures is the effect on the reliability of IT equipment. Servers and storage products tend to have higher rates of failure when operating at higher temperatures. The team at Schneider Electric’s Data Center Science Center concluded that although operating at higher temperatures can be a useful strategy, care must be taken when implementing it to ensure optimal effects. Necessary steps include the adoption of air-management practices, such as the use of hot or cold-aisle containment systems, to reduce the risk of hot spots; the cooling architecture of a data centre should be designed to handle elevated temperatures; and the design should also take into account the business growth plan as data centre behaviour may vary as the IT load changes. In addition, greater collaboration with IT equipment maufacturers is necessary to gain a better understanding of how the operational IT load and how its reliability is impacted at high temperatures. By allowing greater latitude to data centre designers to build their facilities to their specific requirements and by taking into account the differing load and cooling strategies that must be deployed in differing climactic regions, ASHRAE’s new 90.4 standard will encourage innovation in the development of efficient data centres, resulting in more reliable, efficient and cost effective IT services. Source link

Installers urged to support Chimney Fire Safety Week Published:  24 August, 2016 As part of Chimney Fire Safety Week 2016, which takes place from 5 to 11 September, Schiedel Chimney Systems is reminding installers of the important role they have to play in keeping their customers safe from chimney fires, a problem that still causes 382 deaths a year on average, despite reducing by 30% in the last decade. From competent installation and tailored advice from the installer, through to ongoing maintenance, an integrated approach to chimney safety will help stop preventable accidents, the company says. David Wright, residential sales and marketing manager for Schiedel Chimney Systems, said: “The popularity of wood burning stoves is on the up, so the need for skilful installation together with increased customer awareness is paramount in making sure chimney fire fatalities continue their downward trend.” The company has issued a checklist that it recommends installers follow to ensure chimney safety: HETAS-approved training – undertaking the HETAS approved training courses is highly recommended to ensure installers have the correct skills and understand best practice for safe chimney and stove installation Linings and flues – there are many different chimney lining and flue products to suit various situations, but as the chimney is the main channel to contain and vent the products of combustion, making the correct choice is essential for both safety and efficiency Recess safety – always make sure the chimney recess is clear of combustible materials. Particular care must to be taken in timber frame buildings Fume detection – however thick and intact you think the chimney breast is, there may be cracks that could cause smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) leaks into a room. A CO detector is a crucial piece of kit which should always be fitted alongside a wood burning stove, and ideally on every floor encompassing the chimney Customer advice – installers should advise customers to have their chimneys swept at least twice a year by a qualified professional. Homeowners should ensure that any items stored in their loft space are kept away from the chimney, ensuring a safe distance to combustibles in line with building regulations. Homeowners should also ensure that they are burning the current fuels and use and maintain appliances in accordance with manufacturers’ instructions. Between April 2014 and March 2015, fire and rescue services were called to over 5,000 chimney fires. Chimney Fire Safety Week calls for homeowners to prepare for burning season by having their chimneys swept by a HETAS-approved sweep, and to maintain their chimneys throughout the year to avoid a build-up of ash and soot which can present a serious fire hazard. “HETAS-approved solid fuel heating installers are equipped with the technical knowledge and experience to deliver practical and professional advice to their customers about chimney safety, and should play their part in raising awareness – an act that could save lives and win them more business,” said Mr Wright. Source link

“SSL certificate”: you probably know the word but might not even understand the sheer importance of it. Global cybercrime is expected to hit a staggering $2 trillion by 2019, so if there was ever a moment to comprehend the vital role of the SSL certificate in keeping the web safe, then now is the time. Not having a functioning SSL certificate is serious stuff, as CBS reports that “In 2014, 47% of American adults had their personal information stolen by hackers — primarily through data breaches at large companies.” If you didn’t recognize that a site wasn’t safe to use before, then you will now, as Google Chrome provides a report in the address bar as to whether the site should be used to pass on personal data, such as credit card information. Even with SSL checkers available to use, a huge number of sites still don’t have an effective SSL certificate, and whilst many of these are small businesses who may not know any better, a worrying amount of large-scale websites are in the same boat. Keeping up with new technology is clearly important in the construction industry, but this is definitely one area where you can’t afford to lose track, even for a second, as these companies found out. LinkedIn For one day in December, 2017, millions couldn’t access the UK, US, and CA version of the site due to an expired SSL certificate issue. What’s worse is that somehow, many users were able to access the site, but were doing so deprived of a secure connection – and there’s a lot of personal data at risk on a LinkedIn profile. Kaspersky For a cybersecurity company and provider of antivirus software, it remains to be seen how its own SSL certificates could contain bugs, but that’s just what happened to Kaspersky early in 2017. The bug, which disabled certificates for around 400 million users, was actually discovered by Google’s Tavis Ormandy, who described the certificates as far too weak to be up against today’s hackers. The UK’s Conservative Party In January, 2018, the Conservative Party’s very own website went down for several hours when it was discovered that they had failed to renew the SSL certificate. This is perhaps the most common problem which faces websites in terms of online security, as many site owners believe that once an SSL is purchased, it’s there for life. SSL certificates must be updated at specific times, and even though reminders will be sent by the provider, many fail to notice or may well even ignore such prompts. When these security gaps occur, this is the perfect time for hackers to infiltrate and potentially steal private information. Fox-IT Finally, much like Kaspersky, Fox-IT is one of the world leaders in providing IT security, but even it couldn’t escape an SSL problem in 2017. Granted, the way in which the hacker gained access to information belonging to clients of Fox-IT is incredibly sophisticated, it still goes to show how vulnerable online security can be. A detailed timeline of how the attack took place is a fascinating read, and despite Fox-IT becoming aware of the issue about 10 hours after it took place, the company obviously has ways to go to compete against hackers in this day and age.

New home building in the United States increased by 5.2% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.178 million units in February, according to newly released data. The figures from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Commerce Department show that single family production increased 7.2% to 822,000 units, its highest level since November 2007while multifamily starts remained virtually unchanged, inching up 0.8% to 356,000 units. ‘This month’s report is consistent with positive builder sentiment and other economic indicators showing that the housing market continues to recover at a gradual pace,’ said Ed Brady, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). ‘February’s single family gains indicate that this sector is strengthening in line with our forecast. As the US economy firms, job creation continues and mortgage interest rates remain low, we should see further growth in housing production moving forward,’ said NAHB chief economist David Crowe. Combined single and multifamily starts rose in three of the four regions in February, with the West, Midwest and South posting respective gains of 26.1%, 19.9% and 7..1% The Northeast registered a 51.3% loss. A decline in the volatile multifamily sector pushed overall permit issuance down 3.1% in February. Multifamily permits fell 8.4% to a rate of 436,000 while single family permits were up 0.4% to 731,000. Regionally, permits increased in the Northeast by 40.4%. The Midwest, West and South registered respective permit losses of 11.4%, 7.2% and 4.4%.  BOOKMARK THIS PAGE (What is this?)      Source link

24 June 2016 | Martin Read New BIFM chief executive Ray Perry has ended his first week in post by calling on government to “lead us through the short-term volatility” caused by the referendum decision to leave the European Union. Calling the decision “an historic one”, Perry said that “we will not know the full impact or meaning of this for years to come.” However, continued Perry, “ It does immediately create a period of uncertainty for the UK economy and the facilities management services that supply it.” “The government and supporting organisations must get to grips with the task swiftly, putting partisan politics aside to lead us through any short-term volatility towards a stronger and more stable position. We need to focus on market confidence and stability.” “The negotiation period, when Article 50 is invoked, provides an opportunity for our members to understand, adjust to and make the most of the new environment that this decision will create.” “Our immediate priority is to canvas the views of our members and the profession in order to understand their position. Doing so will provide us with clear and valid data to be able to respond and support those operating within the sector.” Source link