Small Data Centers, Big Energy Savings: An Introduction for Owners and Operators

Significant untapped energy efficiency potential exists within small data centers (under 5000 square feet of computer floor). While small on an individual basis, these data centers collectively house more than half of all servers (Shehabi et al 2016) and consume about 40 billion kWh per year. Owners and operators of small data centers often lack the resources to assess, identify and implement energy-saving opportunities. As a result, energy performance for this category of data centers has been below average.  

The purpose of this brief guide is to present opportunities for small data center owners and operators that generally make sense and do not need expensive assessment and analysis to justify.