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ChemTreat Sustainability Audits Uncover Water and Energy Savings at Multiple Data Center Facilities

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Overview

Improving water usage effectiveness (WUE) and power usage effectiveness (PUE) is a key component of operational and conservation goals for data centers.

To support these efforts, ChemTreat offers sustainability audits to our data center customers.

Sustainability audit reports include:

  • An impact summary of findings based on the facility’s operational and sustainability goals.
  • An evaluation of water treatment chemistry programs, chemical feed equipment functionality, deposit sample results, and more.
  • Training and educational opportunities for data center staff.
  • Recommendations and best practices to help facilities reduce water and energy usage, save costs, and maintain system efficiency.

Auditing Process

A data center company has several sustainability goals associated with water and energy, including:

  • Conserving at least 10 million gallons of water per year (5% WUE reduction)
  • Procuring 100% of their power from renewable energy sources
  • Pursuing green building certifications

With these goals in mind, ChemTreat’s experienced water treatment team performed sustainability audits at 7 data center sites.

The audit reports start with an evaluation of the facility’s current state, including a water balance diagram.

The reports outline recommendations for improving water treatment programs and include estimated savings associated with the recommendations.

The reports provide a full list of proposed projects with estimated savings broken down by water, sewer, and energy costs.

Results

The ChemTreat team uncovered many opportunities to reduce water, energy, and greenhouse gas usage across the water systems at these facilities. The proposed projects included:

  • Identifying new sources for cooling tower makeup water, including condensate recovery, rainwater capture, and well water
  • Changing cooling system biocide and scale inhibitor programs
  • Cleaning chillers to improve heat transfer efficiency
  • Increasing cycles of concentration in cooling towers
  • Adjusting chiller condenser approach temperatures

Proposed Savings from Sustainability Audit Recommendations Across 7 Data Center Facilities

55,135,564 gpy in water savings

9,036,602 kWh in electricity savings

3,615 tons in greenhouse gas reduction

If the projects proposed by ChemTreat are implemented, these facilities could annually save the equivalent of:

The water usage of 504 homes1

The energy usage of 825 homes2

ChemTreat’s field specialists work closely with data center personnel on-site to create action plans for project implementation, track progress, and quantify savings. Our local teams are assisted by highly experienced technical staff to offer industry-leading technologies and solutions to help these facilities achieve their environmental goals.

Download the Case Study

Results are examples only. They are not guaranteed. Actual results may vary.

1 Assuming average household water consumption of 300 gpd

2 Assuming average household energy consumption of 30 kWh/day

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