AMERICAN EXPRESS-INFORMATION PROCESSING CENTER
The Information Processing Center, in the southwestern United States of America, is a three-story data processing center that supports the business needs of American Express, a Fortune 500 Company. The building was built 1989 and is managed by a team of dedicated operational staff members. The operational leadership engaged Hewlett-Packard EYP Engineering in 2010 to perform an assessment of the data center's infrastructure in order to determine the current state of the buildings operating characteristics and to assess where short term, medium term, and long term efficiency solutions could be achieved. The building’s initial baseline ENERGY STAR energy performance score was 76. This was enough to achieve certification, but the building’s management thought that it could do better. Several recommendations were proposed to fulfill efficiency goals. The following represent some of the “low-hanging fruit” (low-cost measures) that have been implemented.
Immediate energy savings were achieved through retrofitting the lighting system from T-12 lamps and magnetic ballasts to T-8 lamps and electronic ballasts. Discussions with the local utility provider increased the savings by with incentives to achieve maximum cost reductions for installation as well as energy consumption. This measure has been implemented along with installing occupancy sensors in storage areas and equipment rooms to ensure unused lights were turned off when not needed. A "lights out" policy has been communicated to the building's occupants to turn off unneeded lighting. Timers have been implemented on the second and third floor to minimize lighting during non-business hours.
The building's raised floor tile practices were improved to close off unneeded openings in order to maximize the environment's cooling. Openings in the raised floor have been sealed and hot-aisle - cold-aisle placement of hardware is rigorously enforced. Removal of abandoned cables and cords is also rigorously enforced to ensure minimal air flow restrictions.
Some mid-term solutions are being implemented as well. For example, replacement of computer room air handler units (CRAHs) utilizing fixed fans, with units that use electrically commutated motors; and by relocating air temperature sensors from the return side of the CRAHs, to the supply side, thus achieving maximum cooling while simultaneously reducing energy consumption. A project has been initiated for installation of blanking panels in racks where equipment is missing, in order to reduce voids and prevent recirculation and bypass air flow. Correct the UPS equipments' power factor to meet electrical utility minimum requirements. Capacitors have been installed that increased the power factor of the UPS equipment (above .90), which in turn increased the building's overall power factor to above .90.
Communications:
The CEO of this Fortune 500 Company has stated that the company actively supports energy reduction initiatives that decrease our carbon footprint. In fact, support for energy reduction is being implemented at several sites across the company.
Testimonial:
“We continually endeavor to find new ways to achieve best in class [performance], both economically and in energy usage. Energy usage is monitored daily with a dedicated staff finding new ways to safely support the business and maximize return on investment dollars to make the building run more economically and efficiently.”
Please note: Narrative information in this profile has been provided by American Express-Information Processing Center or a representative of this facility. Other building information was verified and submitted to EPA at the time of application. Building energy performance, operating characteristics, and ownership/management may be subject to change over time.
Building Owner:*
American Express-Information Processing Center
Property Manager:*
American Express-Information Processing Center
Year(s) Labeled (Rating):
2012 (82)
2011 (77)
Facility Type: Data Center
Total Floorspace: 306696 sf
Year Constructed: 1989
Contract Type: None
Technologies Used:
| Stage 2-Lighting |
For More Info:
Frank Niblett
Project Manager-Facilities
602-766-6334
frank.niblett@aexp.com