April 18, 2008—IBM and GIB-Services recently announced a new energy-efficient green data center at a former military bunker outside of Zurich. The new data center is a highly secure data storage facility where GIB will support its clients in Switzerland, and will offer a first-of-its-kind energy model where a direct heat exchange will take place between the data center and a public swimming pool in the town.
Located in Uitikon, Switzerland, the data center is expected to create 2,800 MWh of wasted heat per year when operating at full capacity—enough energy needed to supply up to 80 houses with heat and warm water for one year. IBM has arranged to use some of this previously wasted energy to heat the town’s swimming pool. IBM says it is possible to reuse up to 90 percent of the electric power required for the operation of the data center as heat energy.
IBM also announced the construction of a new green data center for Austrian furniture retailer kika/Leiner that will reduce electric power consumption by up to 40 percent. The building is a free-standing cube with about 1,000 square feet of IT space and state-of-the-art technical security. It is locked, has no windows, is equipped with an automatic fire-extinguishing system, and is protected against flooding, says IBM. The data center does not contain any working space and entrance is restricted. Outside air will be used to cool the center during cold months.
In addition, IBM announced the construction of an innovative data center for Telecom Egypt that the company calls the most sophisticated and energy-efficient data center in Egypt. The state-of-the art data center is designed to be fully equipped to protect TE’s valuable IT investments, and flexible enough to support future growth. IBM will support TE in managing the operation of the data center that runs mission critical business and operational support systems, in addition to the maintenance of a variety of telecommunications equipment.
For more information about IBM’s green data center services, visit the company’s Project Big Green Web site.
