Comcast – Ruth Hupart – 2016

Goals

Having previously hosted three EDF Climate Corps fellows, the Northeast Division of Comcast Cable enlisted another fellow, Ruth Hupart, to identify opportunities for reducing the energy operating expenses of its data centers. Data centers are a major contributor to the company’s carbon footprint and Ruth was asked to identify specific projects–and solutions–to maximize energy savings through free cooling technology.

Solutions

Ruth researched different types of free cooling technologies, which use cooler, outdoor air temperatures, as opposed to energy-intensive mechanical air conditioning. She then inventoried air conditioning equipment within the division’s 13 states to determine the best candidates for free cooling upgrades. After visiting sites and consulting with Comcast engineering personnel and vendors, Ruth developed a tool to calculate energy and financial savings from economizers based on the cooling load of the facility.

Potential Impact

Ruth identified five sites as the top candidates for upgrades. If implemented, those locations alone could save 2,186 metric tons of CO2 per year and have a net present value of $1.2 million.