Northrop Grumman – Fatou Jabbie – 2014

Goals

Fatou Jabbie was asked to conduct an energy efficiency assessment of one of Northrop Grumman’s data centers in Lebanon, Virginia. The assessment was to include a thorough analysis of how energy is used within the data center, including flow and sourcing, and the management of data center microclimates, airflow, hot/cold aisle containment strategies, uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) and power distribution units (PDUs) within the data center environment.

Solutions

Jabbie analyzed energy efficiency opportunities for the systems, the supporting equipment and the inter-relationship of systems, including motors, compressor on chillers, computer room air handling (CRAH) units, cooling tower and exhaust fan motors, lighting and daylighting in the more than 100,000 square foot facility. All elements were considered a part of the overarching recommendation to continually improve data center energy management at Northrop Grumman.

Jabbie identified six top-level recommendations. They included facilities systems improvements such as lighting and set point temperature adjustments; data center operational systems including rack and POD configurations; optimized energy use for airflow management; and on-site energy security and power generation. Jabbie also evaluated the effectiveness of an on-site combined power, cooling and heating generation system.

Potential Impact

On aggregate, the recommended energy efficiency opportunities identified have the potential to enable Northrop Grumman to achieve over 3 million kilowatt hour reductions from 2013 annual energy consumption, an estimated 1,800 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions reductions and an estimated cost savings of more than $1 million with an average payback of approximately three years.