 Sept. 5, 2008 - IT hosting firm The Planet says it expects to save 1.4 kilowatt hours of electricity and $140,000 annually thanks to a new program that powers down datacenter lighting during off hours.
The company has initiated a lights-out policy for 15 hours a day, in its six datacenter facilities, including the computer, electrical, battery, UPS, and mechanical rooms. Data-center technicians who work around the clock now turn on lights as needed in computer rooms.
The program also extends to the company’s corporate offices in Dallas and Houston. Motion-sensor lighting has been installed in all individual offices, with main lighting and HVAC units programmed to run for 12 hours a day. For the other 12 hours, 95% of office lighting remains off.
"Texas is the energy capital of the world, so we’re acutely aware of conserving resources," says Jeff Lowenberg, The Planet’s vice president of facilities. "We employ a common-sense approach to energy conservation, so our lights-out program focuses on another simple solution to reduce energy consumption."
Simple solutions can often earn big paydays when implemented companywide. Last Summer, Wal-Mart saved more than $1 million in electricity costs by turning down the lights in its stores. |
