Waste Not, Want Not: The Inefficient

Design of Today’s Data CentersChris Crosby, CEO, Compass Datacenters

Who We Are

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• Compass Datacenters provides dedicated data centers

• Built using our patent pending architecture• Uptime Institute Tier III certified design and constructed

• LEED certified

• Geographically independent• The building is the module

• Simplify Capacity Planning• Growth in 1.2MW Increments

• Control• Ownership or lease

• Operations and security

• Expansion

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The Big Myth

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• Myth: Scale is needed to drive out cost

• Truth: Product mentality is needed to drive out cost

Hidden Inefficiencies

Capital

Materials

Land

Natural Resources

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• How much is your data center? Easy to answer• What is included? Hard to answer

Capital

• Monolithic Modular structures

• $20-$100 million is spent on four walls and a roof

• #1 killer of new projects is the shell to hold the 20 year plan

• A “real” modular solution would allocate capital as

needed

• Freeing funds for other uses until needed

• Not accounting, it’s common sense

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Land I

• Monolithic facilities aren’t land efficient

• Eliminate the option value

• Ability to use land for other purposes

• Destroys the advantage of an appreciating asset

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Land II

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Trees? Who Needs Trees?

Materials

• Lack of standard designs drives materials waste• “Standard” usually just a starting point for customization

discussions

• Reason Uptime checks every facility as part of its process

• How much concrete and steel does it take to build a 100,000 square foot facility?• Does anyone know?

• What is known:• Production of 1 cubic yard of concrete generates 400 lbs of CO2

• Ex: 6” slab on a 200K square foot building requires 3700 yards of concrete

• Production generates 740 tons of CO2

• Production of 1 ton of steel generates 1.9 tons of CO2

• Ex: 440 tons of steel required for a 200K square foot building

• Production generates 840 tons of CO2

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Resource Inefficiencies

• Water

• Chemical treatment requirements

• Added cost

• Eco impact

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*National Renewable Energy Lab

**James Hamilton, Amazon

“Just because you’re paranoid…”

The Problem is Already Solved

• Expanded ASHRAE Range

• Lessens cooling requirement

• Enhances Airside as an alternative

• Every solution doesn’t have to come from within

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A Universal Alternative

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• Even Houston has over 3600 hours

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• Adiabatic cooling should be perfect in New Mexico

• Hot and dry

• Free cooling benefits in summer and winter

No Adiabatic System: 1877 free cooling hours

With Adiabatic System: 8380 free cooling hours

Check Your Math

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Free Cooling Hours Estimated Cost Saving - New Mexico

75 F Supply Air - Normal 75F Supply Air - Adiabatic

Mech Hours 6883 380

Mech Cooling kWh 1,720,750 95,000

Mech Cooling $ $99,804 $5,510

Saving $ $94,294

Capital Cost -$500,000

10 year saving $442,935

Energy Cost ($/kWh) 0.058 $/kWh

Cooling Overhead Assumption 0.25

IT kW Load 1250kW

The Actual Cost

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• Have to include:

• Discounted future savings (NPV)

• System maintenance

• Cost of water and water treatment

• Adiabatic installation results in NPV -$430k

• Power cost $0.058 / kWh

• Water cost $22 per 1,000

Gal

• 7% discount rate

Materials, Land and Capital

• Solving inefficiency requires a productized solution• Built in self-contained increments

• Each is standalone so if you never grow you never need anything else

• Minimize upfront capital requirements

• Preserve the option value of the land

• 100% hardened is the future proof design

• Elements of true standard design• Standard Bill of Materials

• Same for every job

• The facility is built using “kits”

• All quantities pre-determined

• Reduced transportation requirements

• Volume purchase agreements reduce cost

• Reduced disposal requirements

• Standard drawings and processes• More efficient scheduling reduces wasted manpower

• Only deviations are due to local requirements

• We don’t have to reinvent• Many examples (auto industry, aviation, consumer electronics)

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Data Center Evolution

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Customization

• Industry legacy

• Start with a whiteboard each time

Industrialization

• Introduced by Crosby/Smith at Digital

• VPAs, Standard designs

• Some repeatability, supply chain

Productization

• Complete solution – integrated supply chain

• Serves a segment of the market

• Drives out cost, time through lean

• Increases quality, consistent operations

• The Data Center Industry is Here• Can’t Drive Costs Any Lower or Quality Any Higher

• The Required Next Step• Most Providers Can’t Make It

1990’s

2006

2012

Summary

• Most data centers inherently inefficient• Capital

• Land

• Natural Resources

• Materials

• Standard design really isn’t standard• Standard requires:

• Fixed BOM w/ kitted components

• Standard drawings and processes

• Construction and labor efficiency

• Resource inefficient• Water-based cooling is needed for the specialist, not the generalist

• Land inefficiency

• Concrete and steel inefficiency

• Data centers are evolving• Some will not be able to make the “jump”

• We have proof that there is a better way17

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