Data centre gets highest rating

Advanced Data Centers (ADC) claims that its facility being built in Sacramento, in the US, will be 25% to 30% more energy efficient than the industry standard, says CNet.

ADC detailed the workings of what it says will be the first Platinum level LEED-certified data centre hosting facility. (The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification, done by the US Green Building Council, rates buildings on a range of environmental factors, including energy and water usage, materials, and site location. The platinum rating is the highest rating given.)

Rather than rely exclusively on air conditioners to push cold air from beneath computer racks, ADC's building will pipe in outdoor air for cooling for most of the year.

IBM recently opened its "greenest" data centre in North America at its Boulder, Colorado site, says News Factor.

The 115 000 square-foot, energy-efficient facility includes 70 000 square feet of raised floor space and is part of a $350 million investment by the corporation in Boulder to help meet customer demand worldwide for green data centres, while helping IBM and its clients reduce energy costs.

The new data centre features numerous leading-edge technologies and services, including high-density computing systems utilising virtualisation relevant products/services technology, along with energy-efficient power and cooling technologies.

European furniture retailer IKEA will invest $77 million in environment-friendly companies producing products that might eventually wide up on its store shelves, reports All Headline News.

IKEA's eight-month old IKEA GreenTech fund intends to help bankroll as many as 10 green start-ups.

Among items possibly headed for IKEA stores: solar panels and energy-efficient lighting. The company has already announced its intention to start selling coffee and other organic items.