Technology & Strategy

Map Fatally Flawed

I applaud your effort to promote airside economizer and present tools for people to utilize in determining where it can be effective for them. Unfortunately, although this map is very pretty, it is also extremely misleading.A quick read of this map leads one to believe that areas such as Houston have the same or greater potential for airside eonomizer then areas such as Seattle. Anyone who is familiar with the climates of Houston and Seattle would have difficulty believing this assertion.Having used airside economizer for many years in Seattle, I can tell you that the map does not accurately reflect the potential in this area. In our new data center, we intend to use airside economizer (and evaporative cooling, where necessary) for essentially the entire year.My guess is that the people who put together the map failed to take into account the common practice of mixing outside air with return air from the server room to create proper temperature and humidity conditions within the space.

Posted at 01:00 PM on April 22, 2009 by John Sasser