When Nick Donofrio use to return to home from his alma mater Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute over breaks, his mother would pass broken kitchen appliances his way, and ask him to fix them.

Forty years later, Donofrio, the former IBM Executive Vice President of Innovation and Technology, is using technology to fix environmental problems.

Donofrio, along with Syracuse University and New York State representatives, unveiled SU’s new Green Data Center to a group of about 100 industry professionals Wednesday.

The $12.4 million Green Data Center, located on South Campus’ Skytop Road, is the result of collaboration among IBM, SU and New York state. Construction on the 12,000 square-foot center began in May. The center is expected to be in full operation by January.

IBM will invest $27 million to pay for the center over the next five years.

To date, the center is the most efficient data center in the world, said Vice Chancellor and Provost Eric Spina, who spoke at the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Data centers use a sizable portion of electricity in the United States. Vijay Lund, IBM’s vice president of Operations, Systems and Technology, detailed how the center will help curb that trend.

Currently, data centers collectively use 1.5 percent of all electricity in the United States, Lund said. On average, 67 percent of the energy transferred from power plants to data centers is lost.

SU’s Green Data Center is expected to use 50 percent less energy than the average data center, he said.

The center’s efficiency is achieved through unique systems processes, including an in-house generation of electricity, direct current circuits and a closed-loop water-cooling system, Lund said.

But in addition to the technology, those involved in the development of the center said the actual research done within its walls will also benefit the environment.

Research is expected to prompt the creation of ‘greener’data centers and increased efficiency at preexisting centers across the nation, Spina said.

Seven SU graduate students, five faculty members and two university technicians are working at the center. The successful creation of the Green Data Center can be largely attributed to their research, Spina said.

‘We’re looking forward to many, many more projects with Syracuse University,’ Lund, of IBM, said.

In addition to IBM’s funding, New York Sen. Dave Valesky acquired a $500,000 capital grant through the state senate for the facility’s construction.

‘What we see here today is New York strength on display’, said Frank Murray, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority President and Chief Officer.

New York currently represents the second highest region for data center energy concentration, Murray said. The center’s presence coincides with Governor Paterson’s goal to reduce New York energy consumption by 15 percent by 2015.

The partnership between IBM and SU, Murray said, was an ideal collaboration.

‘When you marry orange with blue,’ he said, ‘you end up with green.’

kapete01@syr.edu

Published on December 2, 2009 at 12:00 pm