Ooooh, Google builds a two story data center in Dalles

I read this post on GigaOm about Google's data center expansion being two story.  And started laughing.  Ooooh it's news that Google has a two story data center.

Given Google's disclosed hot aisle containment with its chilled water to the rack it is pretty damn efficient for google to pipe water for cooling.  This type of approach would work well in Singapore where Google is building as well which will probably be more than two stories.  Moving water is so much more efficient than moving air.

Google eyes two-story Oregon data center design to maximize efficiency

by Jordan Novet

11 MINS AGO

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photo: Google

SUMMARY:

Google plans to build two stories inside a new data center building on its campus in The Dalles, Ore. It’s yet another method of optimizing critical infrastructure for the web giant.

 The Dalles Chronicle has the original post citing city disclosures.

City staff is recommending the request be approved, since the proposal – to build a building up to 80 feet tall – will not overwhelm the other two relatively tall buildings on the property, and is in an isolated area.

#The new building will go between the two existing buildings. “The building will be large, but not out of scale with its surroundings,” a staff report noted.

#Google did not specify how tall the building would be, but said it could be up to 80 feet. City rules limit buildings to 55 feet in industrial zones if they are for human occupancy, and up to 75 feet if they are not for human occupancy. The ordinance does allow for a variance, or exception, to that rule, and Google is seeking such a variance.

#“The applicant is trying to efficiently use its property. Based on current technology, a two-story building is more efficient than a one-story building,” the staff report said.

#No objections were raised to the proposal when notices on it were sent to adjoining properties, the staff report noted.

DCK references the The Dalles Chronicle as well.

Is it really news that Google is building a two story building?  Although thanks to Yahoo, the media got excited a chicken coop was being built.

Charlie DeJong Eastern Washington native, passes away over the weekend

Almost none of you know Charlie DeJong.  I worked with Charlie when we were both at Microsoft.  He had an interest in the environment and growing up in Wenatchee in Eastern Washington he grew more interested in data centers as they were being built in his hometown area.  Charlie and I took a drive out to Eastern Washington 5 years ago to look at some data centers to prepare him for some job interviews.  Unfortunately, Charlie did not get job so he is an unknown in the data center industry.

Just now I heard through a Facebook post that Charlie past away this weekend.

 

Today, God reached from heaven to carry the soul of our dear Charlie to be with him in his Kingdom. Those that knew Charlie witnessed a man that truly loved his family and friends and most of all God. Charlie showed me laughter, sometimes tears, but I always knew that his love for God and his beautiful family were paramount...it radiated from him!
Charlie DeJong, I love you and will miss you, and I know you will always be with us.

Charlie did get to spend the last 4 years working on something that he can be proud of.

Charlie DeJong

Building a better world for children

Greater Seattle Area

Nonprofit Organization Management

Current	World Vision
Previous	Microsoft Corporation,  Versada Networks,  Access360
Education	The George Washington University Law School

A luxury of being an independent blogger vs. a media person - freedom from deadlines

If you interact with media writers at some point you'll get the comment "I don't have time now, I have a deadline."  I don't think I've ever told someone I have a deadline.  What is a deadline?

Here is a post on what deadlines mean to journalist.

I wonder how many journalist have used this line.

When under the gun, journalists put deadline before anything else in their lives, including friends, family and yes, even coital. There’s a reason why spouses of journalists are familiar with the saying, “Not tonight dear, I’m on deadline.” 

I have gone a week or more just not writing on this blog, taking a break.  Sometimes I'l go a day or two with no posts, then have a riff of 5 in an hour.

On the other hand the main thing in writing a blog is to be regular with what you write.  Daily, weekly, etc.  

I think after 26 years of corporate life, I enjoy the freedom to set my own pace.

Google's "How Green is the Internet?" videos are up, next is the presentations then analysis

Google pushed up the videos for "How Green is Internet?" yesterday.

Driving the industry forward

Through industry collaboration, we aim to create a more sustainable technology sector and build products and services that benefit the environment. For example, we hosted events in 2009 and 2011 where we discussed with industry peers how we can improve on data center efficiency. In June 2013, we hosted the “How green is the Internet?” summit.

The videos allow you to see the presentations.  The slides will be up soon as well.

The news covered the event with the following posts I pointed to.  So what is next?  Some perspective and analysis.

I got a chance to sit in a media briefing with Urs Hoelzle that supported the media posts.  Sitting next to Urs we chatted before anyone else came in and had a good time following up on some discussions.  

There were bunch of side conversations I had with wholesales data center operators, data center users, technology companies, various support staff many who are friends I hadn't seen for a while and some I saw only 24 hrs ago at 7x24 Exchange in Boca. Jonathan Koomey and I discussed a paper that I will interview him for.  Gary Cook will also be interviewed for the same paper and luckily I was able to get the three of us to chat about the ideas.  I thought Gary and Jonathan knew each other which they did, but they hadn't actually met in person.

The RAW data is there - videos and presentations.  Media reports were made as well.   The vast majority of people will base their opinion of the event on what the media writes.  One excellent insight is George Orwell's comment on writing that I posted.  Knowing someone's motives allows you to understand their perspective

 I give all this background information because I do not think one can 
assess a writer's motives without knowing something of his early 
development.

I didn't get a chance to get the early development background of the media, but sitting in a conf room for an hour watching the questions asked, how they reacted gives a perspective to read their writing.  Can you imagine if when you read a media post you were able to watch the video of the interview side-by-side to watch the interview and read their writing.  When I was at the IBM Impact conference I got a more extended view of the media process.

Some of the things I've figured out I have written down to post, but after reading them, the ideas are esotreric or controversial which means it is for a much narrower audience.

One of the best things about attending Google's Energy Summit is I have now a deeper understanding of how things work.  The process that people can't see in the challenge of communicating green initiatives.  Just because something is invisible doesn't mean it is not important.

Yet, sometimes things need to be invisible in order to allow people to understand and not get distracted.  Here is a classic saying for Typography.  

Good typography is invisible. According to Gerard Unger: ” It is almost impossible to look
and read at the same time: they are different actions ” Therefore,
graphic designers, make your typography invisible so the words and messages can
communicate as intended.

Bad Typography is Everywhere / Good Typography is Invisible

Full Media Coverage of Google's "How Green is the Internet?" event

I attended as media/press the 3rd Google Energy Summit.  I had been to the 1st, and was briefed on the presentations for the 2nd.  The third didn't focus on data centers as much and more asking questions and presenting data on the environmental impact of data centers and internet technologies.  Urs Hoelzle has been the executive sponsor for each one of these events.  Al Gore and Eric Schmidt for the first time presented their perspectives.

On purpose I choose not to write, tweet, during the summit.  There were a bunch of photographers and videographers there so I know the images and video are going to come.

It's a lot of hard work to record the content, let alone listen to what people are saying.

Here are the list of news articles on the Google event that Google news shows.

Full coverage

Al Gore, Google search for a greener Internet GreenBiz.com (blog) - ‎22 hours ago‎ How green is the Internet? Al Gore, Eric Schmidt and other experts packed a room at Google headquarters Thursday to explore the Internet's environmental impacts. With a crowd of about 100 people, it was the third event Google has hosted on this topic since ...   The internet is good for the planet, and let's keep it that way GigaOM - ‎18 hours ago‎ But all of this research is so new, and these issues are so complex, that answering that question — is the internet green or not? — is a very difficult one. After the day long Google event called How green is the internet? I have a lot more questions than answers ...   Google Says: Save Energy, Ditch Your Data Center Forbes - ‎Jun 6, 2013‎ Server and data center under-utilization is one of the primary sources of waste and inefficiency in computing, argued Hoelzle, who served as the master of ceremonies at the “How Green is the Internet?” symposium that took place at Google headquarters in ...   Is the Internet green? Yes and no San Francisco Chronicle (blog) - ‎Jun 6, 2013‎ Google is hosting a summit on its corporate campus on Thursday exploring the question: How green is the Internet? The main speakers include former Vice President Al Gore, Google Chairman Eric Schmidt and Urs Hölzle, the Mountain View Internet giant's ...   The Efficiency Gap: Can Server Huggers Shift to the Cloud? Data Center Knowledge - ‎Jun 7, 2013‎ That was the bottom line in a wide-ranging discussion Thursday at “How Green is the Internet,” a conference convened by Google to brainstorm ways to reduce the impact of Internet technology on the emission of green house gases. Data centers got their ...   Highlights from Google's Internet Summit Data Center Knowledge - ‎Jun 7, 2013‎ At yesterday's “How Green is the Internet?” conference, Google Chairman Eric Schmidt shared anecdotes about the benefits of Internet services in the emerging world, citing his experiences in travels to Pakistan, southern Sudan and China. (Photo: Rich Miller).   Al Gore: Stop using the atmosphere as 'AN OPEN SEWER' Register - ‎Jun 7, 2013‎ Speaking at Google's "How Green Is the Internet? Summit" at the company's Mountain View headquarters on Thursday, Gore reiterated his belief that global warming is real, and that its effects are already upon us. Gore's presentation at the gathering, which is ...   Al Gore: The information explosion is a tool to help solve the climate crisis GigaOM - ‎Jun 6, 2013‎ The digital revolution and the explosion of data are powerful tools that can help solve the climate crisis, said Vice President Al Gore at Google's 'How Green is the Internet?' on Thursday. In Gore's talk he applauded the leadership roles that tech companies like ...