Sony Pictures Entertainment – Russell Baruffi – 2009

Goals

Russell Baruffi, a joint MBA/MS student at the University of Michigan, spent his summer as an EDF Climate Corps fellow at Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE), the motion picture production and distribution; television production and distribution; digital content creation and distribution; worldwide channel investments; home entertainment acquisition and distribution, operation of studio facilities; development of new entertainment products, services and distribution subsidiary of the Japanese multinational electronics and entertainment conglomerate Sony Corporation.

Solutions

Baruffi explored the SPE campus in Culver City, California and identified several energy efficiency opportunities. Some of the most significant potential savings Baruffi identified could come from SPE’s data centers. One project he investigated is hot and cold aisle containment. Hot and cold aisles are created by arranging computer cabinets so that hot and cold air are separated into different spaces. Arranging the cabinets in this manner reduces the ability of hot and cold air to mix and improves the cooling efficiency of data center air conditioners.

Potential Impact

Implementing hot and cold aisles SPE could achieve significant savings over the life of the project of up to 3 million kWh of electricity per year, while avoiding annual CO2 emissions of 873 metric tons.