Facebook said yesterday that its data center site location policy “now states a preference for access to clean and renewable energy.” The announcement ended a long-running feud between the social network and the environmental group Greenpeace, which had targeted Facebook in a social media and PR campaign because the company’s two data centers in Oregon and North Carolina each relied upon utility power that originated primarily from coal.

Is Facebook’s announcement an isolated incident in which a company alters its policies in response to outside pressure? Or is it a sign that renewable energy will become a larger factor on site location decisions, boosting regions with “green” power in their utility mix?

We put the question to our readers: Is the availability of renewable energy a major factor in your site location decision? Take our poll:

We wrap up our reader predictions on 2012 with a look at data center energy efficiency, and some of the strategies that we may see more of during the new year. In the data center business, energy efficiency is a business imperative. Soaring power usage has intensified the focus on the IT power bill and how it can be managed. Data center efficiency has become a C-suite concern. Check out Data Center Energy Efficiency Trends for 2012. For a larger look at steps you can take to make your facility more efficient, see our Data Center Energy Efficiency Guide.

Economizer Fundamentals: Smart Approaches to Energy-Efficient Free-Cooling for Data Centers is an important reference piece. It explains what Data Center professionals need to know about utilizing outdoor air as a tool to optimize energy savings and climate control within the data center facility. The promise of economizer technology has drawn interest not only for environmental reasons but cost savings as well. However, there are geographical considerations and differences between systems.

This graph rich whitepaper compares the two types of economizers – fluid and air. The pros and cons of each one are explained in detail and how they can be utilized in places as diverse as Atlanta and Chicago. Considerations range from capital expenditure costs, best operating hours, duct work, estimating annual energy savings and safely bringing in outside air.

Special consideration must be given to the data center climate control system because sensitive electronics should only be subject to systems that are proven. However, with a potential of 50% energy cost savings this technology cannot be overlooked and deserves a serious review from the IT strategist.

Keeping temperature-sensitive IT equipment like servers cool in heated buildings during the winter months has become a challenge. Standard central air conditioners may provide adequate cooling during warm months, but as the building’s HVAC system switches from cooling to heating, equipment can face the risk of overheating, costly damage and system downtime. The traditional solution of precision cooling systems is normally effective, but does suffer from some drawbacks.

This white paper from MovinCool examines the benefits of using ceiling-mount air conditioners to keep server rooms and closets cool inside heated buildings. It discusses the scenarios in which overheating can be missed or ignored, explains the differences between mini-splits and precision cooling systems, and the drawbacks associated with precision units. Next, the functions of a ceiling-mount air conditioning unit and the advantages to utilizing them are explored, as well as what to look for when choosing a self-contained, ceiling-mount air conditioner.

Learn the many advantages of ceiling-mount air conditioning systems and the dangers of overheating. Click here to download this white paper on the benefits of self-contained, ceiling-mount air conditioners.

With the growing costs of power and an increased uncertainty in power availability, energy conservation has become a major concern in the data center.  Increases in the demand of computing power to satisfy mission critical applications along with the emergence of virtualization have had major effects on server density, making the need for an efficient energy management plan even more important.  With the detailed knowledge of energy consumption gained from real-time monitoring within the data center, administrators can feel secure that they are making better, more energy conscious decisions.

This white paper from Raritan answers some of the most challenging questions associated with energy management while providing detailed explanations of how to correct some of the most common false assumptions regarding power consumption.  It goes on to discuss methods for measuring the difference between IT equipment power load vs. total facility power load, and calculating Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE).  Lastly, it demonstrates what to do with the knowledge gleaned from these calculations, and how to make the best use of it while planning your data centers energy management strategy.

Learn the importance of accurately calculating your data center’s power needs.  Click here to download this white paper from Raritan on energy requirement calculations and the advantages that come with real-time power monitoring.