Did you Really Turn off the Lights?

DataCenterKnowledge has a post reporting on The Planet's efforts to really turn Lights off in the data center.

The Planet said today that it expects to reduce its annual energy consumption by 1.4 million kilowatt hours, gaining nearly $140,000 in savings, through “more efficient use of lighting.” Translation: they’re strictly enforcing a policy for turning out the lights after hours. That means The Planet’s six data centers will be lit only from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with smaller lamps remaining on in main areas for safety and navigation. ”Data-center technicians who work around the clock now turn on lights as needed in computer rooms,” the company said. 

With many bragging about a Lights Out facility, you would think this isn't newsworthy, but many are not really turning off the lights.

“While lighting is a small portion of the total power usage of a datacenter, it can be often be safely reduced through mature, inexpensive technologies and designs,” according to data center energy management best practices from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, which recommends using motion sensors to turn lights off in empty rooms.