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I was talking to an experienced precon engineer (Dave Irvin, Skanska Preconstruction Director) about modular data center construction, and he pointed out Pharmaceuticals have been doing this for a while.
I found this pdf on “why, when, how to benefit from modular projects.”
There an challenges for modular construction.
And some good pictures to give you an idea of scale.
There are 25 slides in the presentation that gives you some good things to think about.
WSJ has an article on how the world of architecture has changed.
The Sky's No Longer the Limit
Rem Koolhaas reflects on the global slowdown's effect on ambitious projects; the aftermath of a fire
By J.S. MARCUS
ROTTERDAM, the Netherlands -- Rem Koolhaas's massive, doughnut-shaped CCTV building in Beijing survived unscathed in February when a fire engulfed a nearby tower belonging to the same complex. But the event signaled the ending of an architectural era.
"I don't even know about the word 'downturn,' " said Mr. Koolhaas in his office in Rotterdam recently, reflecting on the global economic slowdown that has stopped the architecture world dead in its tracks. "It's seems simply the end to a period."
All around the world, major architectural projects are under threat. In November, construction stopped on the Russia Tower, a 600-meter-high Moscow building designed by the London firm Norman Foster & Partners. Meanwhile, another Norman Foster Moscow project, called Crystal Island, featuring a 450-meter-high, funnel-shaped skyscraper, has also been put on hold.
The ideas in the article apply to data center construction.
"A reappraisal is going on in the architecture world," said Cecil Balmond, the London-based engineer who has worked closely with Mr. Koolhaas for over two decades. "In a time of plenty, there is a bravado and a push to make more and more sensational [architectural] statements." In the current climate, he noted, "a very spectacular iconic project might now get the pause button."
How many data center projects do you know have been put on hold?
How many projects were a superset of stakeholder requirements, and energy efficiency was not the top issue? Many projects moving forward now are ones that were designed to be more efficient than the legacy data center services, so the projects are a cost reduction in the long term.
The green data centers are getting built and the inefficient ones are put on hold.
Here is an article I worked on the Seven Steps to a Hyper-Green Virtual Server System.
Green IT Framework for Building a “Hyper-Green” Virtual Server System
Adam Bogobowicz and Dave Ohara
Contents
Step 1: Know Your Server Loads
Step 2: Plan for High Utilization
Step 3: Save Power
Step 4: Eliminate Waste
Step 5: Identify your Hyper-V SKUs
Step 6: Plan, Deploy, Monitor
Step 7: See the Forest, not the Trees
Moving ForwardOrganizations of all sizes are focused on cutting costs by increasing the efficiency of their computing resources. Virtualization is a standard Green IT technique. But how do you equate energy efficiency efforts beyond "I used virtualization to consolidate my servers."
Server virtualization allows multiple operating systems to run on a single physical machine as virtual machines (VMs), consolidating workloads across multiple underutilized servers. But are you really achieving a performance per watt that is better than other enterprise users?
Building a Hyper-Green virtualization server system is focused on taking the extra steps necessary to further reduce energy consumption. Your approach can start small; it can be comparable to switching from incandescent light bulbs to compact fluorescent light bulbs at home. Your next step could be analogous to turning off lights, automatically setting thermostats, and using devices such as Kill-A-Watt to identify practices and components that waste energy. The specific technologies are not as important as an awareness of the situation and a dedication to make things better. A zealous focus on efficiency and reducing waste has lasting effects.
In Warren Buffett's biography Snowball, he discusses the idea of an "Inner Scorecard" that allows you to measure where you are meeting your personal goals and where you are falling short. The internal scorecard measures whether you are doing what is right versus doing what external forces or expedience would lead you to do. In the area of green services, doing what is right is having a focus on performance per watt, not just on performance or on watts expended. The Microsoft Virtualization site can help you keep score of your energy savings by measuring energy consumption before and after virtualization and then using local energy prices to calculate savings. By focusing on reducing energy costs, you can ensure the success of your virtualization project.
There was a deadline to hit the publish date, and there will be an update to this article. Adam Bogobowicz and I have had great success with these seven steps to discuss a framework for green virtual server system.
One of the things we have been able to do is arrange the order of execution in an easier way to execute the seven steps.
1) Save Power
2) Eliminate Waste
3) Manage for High Utilization
4) Power Size Hardware
5) Power Size Software
6) Plan and Deploy for Green
7) See the Forest for the Trees
I am going to take a week vacation and try to stop blogging. I’ll be back Apr 24.
Checked out Mike Manos blog and nothing new, but he has his new job listed.
About Michael Manos
Senior Vice President
Digital Realty Trust
A seasoned Technology Management executive with over 15 years of management experience and technical industry certifications with a strong background in data center management, information technology platforms, network architecture, service management (ITIL) and telecommunication technologies.
Mike has an extensive IT-based consulting and professional service background which includes business practice management with revenue generation responsibilities which flavors a strong advocacy of technology and process integration.
Past examples of this technology and process integration have been recognized by leading analyst firms including The Gartner Group and Meta Group. This integration experience is augmented by considerable systems development experience in both traditional systems development environments and web-based development platforms.
Currently responsible for the global data center design, construction, ongoing operations and professional services for Digital Realty Trust, his past roles include similar responsibilities at Microsoft Corporation, and leadership roles at Walt Disney, Rhythms NetConnections, and Nuclio Corporation (now part of Sun Microsystems).
And LinkedIn has him listed as SR VP Digital Realty Trust
Michael Manos
Senior Vice President at Digital Realty Trust
Greater Seattle Area
- Current
- Senior Vice President at Digital Realty Trust
It looks like May has come early as Microsoft’s post says he leaves in early May.
As you may have already read, Mike Manos will be leaving Microsoft in early May to return to Chicago and take a leadership position with Digital Realty Trust.
Mike congratulations on your starting your new job.