Issue link: https://cp.revolio.com/i/488587
12 | THE DATA CENTER JOURNAL www.datacenterjournal.com audit can mean trouble for noncompliant companies, so the identity of the enforcing organization is unimportant. Data center construction—like any major building project—is subject to reams of regulations addressing all aspects of the effort. From plumbing to electrical to safety, construction projects must not only comply with the letter of the law (or regulation), they must oen submit to the whims of individual regulators. Unfortu- nately, this stage—like any part of a busi- ness—oen involves meeting standards that are downright silly, but it's one of the costs of doing business. Some data center managers, for instance, know well the hassles that emergency power-off (EPO) buttons can cause. energy-efficiency regulations Data centers are notorious for their energy appetites, and as governments, companies and the public become more aware of energy-related issues, pressure on data center operators is mounting. us far, governments have largely turned a blind regulatory eye to these facilities; in the U.S., that may perhaps owe in part to the federal government's own horrendous record on data center efficiency. Yet the matter of regulation remains open and uncertain. "While heavy mandatory energy-ef- ficiency standards may be a way off, there is a variety of ways to penalize the lack of adherence to best practices," said Ratush- ny. "For example, a carbon levy tax that is applied to electricity consumption in addi- tion to the existing charges would encour- age efficiency. is tax is very common in other parts of the world, with a few states in the United States already implementing these type taxes." Although the economic downturn took most of the wind from the sails of efforts to implement carbon taxes or similar schemes, the recent crash in oil prices may refuel the drive, so to speak. Some politicians have viewed the current low energy prices (for oil, at least) as an opportunity to enact taxation—effectively while consumers and businesses wouldn't notice. Yet even though the so-called economic recovery has been ongoing for years, a general uneasiness remains, as the reluctance of the Federal Reserve to raise near-zero interest rates evinces. As a result, energy-efficiency regulations (whether di- rectly or indirectly through energy/carbon taxes) will remain a distant possibility. Should the opportunity or drive to regulate energy efficiency re-emerge, however, several questions would present themselves. Most notable would be a standard metric to measure data center efficiency. "It is possible that a regula- tion specifying minimum power usage effectiveness (PUE) will come about, but beyond that, the problem is how you de- fine efficient," said Leung. "Some comput- ers can be running 100% and add no value and some can run at a very low percent, but beyond the basic data center overhead for how much energy is given to comput- ers versus how much power is given to the data center as a whole, there is no way to effectively calculate energy efficiency in the data center." And even that says nothing about companies that game the system, boasting PUEs of 1.0 or less (both of which are impossible). Likely, the easier regulatory route would be a simple tax that encourages efficiency by increasing costs, albeit artificially. But governments don't always take the brute-force approach; some may implement energy-efficiency incentives rather than regulations. According to Naiburg, "Implementing incentives such as ACT 129 will encourage the upgrade and installation of more-efficient equipment. ACT 129 is an energy incentive program that rewards customers for implementing specific higher-efficiency equipment." easing the BurDen Regulations are a reality, so the challenge is compliance that minimizes cost and effort. And because regulators are human beings, that challenge includes answering the question of how to stay on their good side. "is is the million dollar question. If you think about it, I think the best answer is making sure the data is always available and secure," said Leung. In addition, seeking help is virtually a necessity. Given all the regulations, as well as the potentially odd interpretations thereof, experienced professionals can offer helpful advice and point out regula- tory pitfalls. "Working with partners who understand both current regulations and industry best practices that will support future regulations will not only keep you compliant, but will in many cases help improve the operations of your facility or business. In many cases the right vendor or partner can make certain compliance as easy as checking off a checklist." Justly or unjustly, those thousands upon thousands of pages of nightmar- ishly bureaucratic language apply to you and your data center—or, at least, some of them do. And if you're in a highly regu- lated industry, compliance may require even greater effort. Despite the monu- mental task, successfully navigating the stormy sea of regulations (and anticipating changes as politics varies over time) is possible, particularly with some help from service providers that are experienced in this area. n Regulations are a reality, so the challenge is compliance that minimizes cost and effort. And because regulators are human beings, that challenge includes answering the question of how to stay on their good side. "This is the million dollar question. If you think about it, I think the best answer is making sure the data is always available and secure," said Leung.