More than 80% data centre consultants willing to pay higher price for energy-efficiency systems, survey finds

Australia’s data centre managers and consultants are near unanimous in believing that deployment of new energy-efficient data centre systems technology is worth the higher price that this new infrastructure commands.

86% of organisations are prepared to pay a price premium for energy-efficient IT infrastructure. Only 6% of respondents nominated price as a driving priority in designing new data centres. 67% of respondents are now designing data centres with up to 50 kW load per rack while one in three consultants believe that data centres built today have up to a 10-year operating life span. The survey found that one in three organisations are prepared to pay higher prices for equipment that has shorter order lead times, including surge protectors, uninterruptible power supplies and generators.

At the same time, however, the survey found that only 3% of consultants prioritised energy efficiency in the design of a data centre compared to 84% who highlighted the need for reliability in any data centre planning.

The poll, conducted last month by diversified power management company Eaton, surveyed 67 Australian data centre managers and consultants during May 2012. The survey was designed to provide a snapshot of current data centre planning in Australia.

Those vendors able to provide end-to-end data infrastructure are set to benefit most with more than one in three (37%) of respondents indicating a preference in dealing with a single vendor and sole contract scenario for items, including power distribution, power quality and rack distribution. Indeed, 78% of consultants claim they rely on an IT vendor’s specialist knowledge and advice to assist in designing power distribution and power-quality systems for mission-critical applications.

Michael Mallia, Senior Product Line Manager Power Quality - Asia Pacific Electrical Sector, Eaton, said, “Data centres are costly facilities that consume prodigious amounts of power, water, natural resources and space, and this survey now confirms that data centre operators are continually searching for ways to build and operate their facilities sustainably and with greater reliability.

“While businesses have been designing data centres for decades, along the way they’ve grown steadily more skilled at constructing and retrofitting facilities in ways that boost their efficiency, increase their availability and lighten their environmental impact. This survey would suggest that today’s economic pressures and environmental concerns now have many businesses looking to lower their energy bills and reduce carbon emissions.”