RenewIT tool
An EU-funded research project has launched a free online tool to help design energy efficient and renewable data centres.
Data centres house networks of computer servers to store, process or distribute large amounts of data. They are generally large users of energy and the industry as a whole is keen to reduce the impact they have.
The RenewIT tool is designed to help operators, designers and stakeholders maximise the sustainability of new data centre sites by comparing more than 60 European locations by electricity costs, access to renewable power and other factors. It can help select the best location, cooling concept or energy efficiency measures, and the results can be compared to a conventional data centre or with another facility.
Financial services company ING has used RenewIT to demonstrate how they could improve the efficiency of one of their zero carbon data centres by adding a biogas fuel cell and raising the operating temperature of the facility.
Jo Harris, Sustainable Construction Group Manager at BSRIA, said: “It allows data centre operators to replicate the advantages and expenses of on-site and grid renewables, predicts productivity gains from technologies such as free cooling and the finer aspects of workload management can also be calculated.”
The tool is for use in the EU, but there is potential for it to be extended to North America and Asia in the future.
--BSRIA
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
Featured articles and news
CIAT Celebrates 60 years of Architectural Technology
Find out more #CIAT60 social media takeover.
The BPF urges Chancellor for additional BSR resources
To remove barriers and bottlenecks which delay projects.
Flexibility over requirements to boost apprentice numbers
English, maths and minimumun duration requirements reduced for a 10,000 gain.
A long term view on European heating markets
BSRIA HVAC 2032 Study.
Humidity resilience strategies for home design
Frequency of extreme humidity events is increasing.
National Apprenticeship Week 2025
Skills for life : 10-16 February
Update on the future of Grenfell Tower
Deputy Prime Minister decides for it be carefully taken down to the ground.
Ending decades of frustration, misinformation and distrust.
Essential tools in managing historically significant landscapes.
Classroom electrician courses a 'waste of money'
Say experts from the Electrical Contractors’ Association.
Wellbeing in Buildings TG 10/2025
BSRIA topic guide updates.
With brief background and WELL v2™.
From studies, to books to a new project, with founder Emma Walshaw.
Types of drawings for building design
Still one of the most popular articles the A-Z of drawings.
Who, or What Does the Building Safety Act Apply To?
From compliance to competence in brief.
The remarkable story of a Highland architect.
Commissioning Responsibilities Framework BG 88/2025
BSRIA guidance on establishing clear roles and responsibilities for commissioning tasks.