Energy Logic


Energy Logic is a vendor-neutral approach to achieving energy efficiency in data centers. Developed and initially released in 2007, the Energy Logic efficiency model suggests ten holistic actions – encompassing IT equipment as well as traditional data center infrastructure – guided by the principles dictated by the "Cascade Effect."

Energy Logic Assumptions

The first iteration of the Energy Logic model was introduced by Emerson Network Power on November 29, 2007. Described as a “new approach to energy optimization,” the model was developed in response to industry feedback suggesting a growing emphasis on promoting efficiency initiatives, without compromising the performance and reliability of the data center.
The Energy Logic data center efficiency model was developed based on research and modeling of 5,000 square foot data center, including average IT equipment densities, common data center and facility infrastructures and their collective energy draw.
Energy draw for the 5,000 square foot data center model was based on the following assumptions:
  • Server refresh rate: 4 to 5 years
  • * Data center has mix of servers ranging from new to 4-years old
  • No virtualization or blades
  • No high-density loads
  • * Average density: 3 kW/rack
  • Total compute load: about 600 kW
  • UPS configuration: 2x750 kVA, 1+1 redundant
  • Hot-aisle/cold-aisle configuration
  • Floor-mount cooling connected to building chilled water plant
  • MV transformer at building entrance with switchgear

    The Cascade Effect

Based on the benchmarks established by the 5,000 sq. ft. model, Emerson Network Power recommended improvements to IT and data center infrastructures capable of maximizing total energy savings by leveraging the “cascade effect.”
For the purposes of the Energy Logic model, the cascade effect assumes that for every one watt of energy saved at the server component level, a data center can expect to realize up to 2.84 Watts in cumulative energy savings as the initial reduction “cascades” through the infrastructure.

Energy Logic Actions

The Energy Logic model proposes ten vendor-neutral actions that are forecast to reduce cumulative energy consumption by up to 50 percent. The ten recommended actions prescribed in the Energy Logic model are:
  1. Integrating IT equipment with low-power processors
  2. Deploying high efficiency power supplies matched to power needs
  3. Implementing a server power management system/strategy
  4. Deploying blade servers
  5. Implementing server virtualization throughout the IT infrastructure
  6. Establishing an efficient power distribution architecture
  7. Implementing data center cooling best practices
  8. Deploying variable capacity cooling equipment
  9. Deploying high-density supplemental cooling
  10. Implementing a data center monitoring and optimization strategy
The Energy Logic model also suggests additional opportunities for energy savings, including:
  • Identifying and disconnecting unused servers
  • Consolidating data storage
  • Implementing economizers for subsidized cooling
  • Monitoring and reducing energy losses tied to facility infrastructure

    Energy Logic 2.0

In 2012, Emerson Network Power introduced an update to the Energy Logic model, to take into consideration advances in IT and data center infrastructure technology.
Using the same 5,000 square foot data center benchmarked in the 2007 model, Energy Logic 2.0 updates the ten prescribed actions to reflect current technologies and average equipment efficiency. As a result, the updated actions are forecast to yield energy savings up to 74 percent.
The ten updated actions include:
  1. Deploying low-power components
  2. Deploying high-efficiency power supplies matched to power needs
  3. Implementing a server power management system/strategy
  4. Establishing an ICT architecture
  5. Implementing a server virtualization and consolidation strategy
  6. Optimizing the data center's power architecture
  7. Implementing a temperature and airflow management strategy
  8. Deploying variable-capacity cooling equipment
  9. Establishing a high-density cooling infrastructure
  10. Implementing a comprehensive Data Center Infrastructure Management strategy