A data center processes, stores, and distributes data for a single organization or many organizations. It is filled with computer servers that together, consume considerable power. The servers also produce considerable heat, which in turn requires air conditioning.
This adds up to a costly power bill. Data centers work to minimize power consumption by consolidating the work loads of its servers, eliminating unnecessary computing, and using more efficient servers. Some data centers have reduced air conditioning power consumption by increasing their room temperatures by several degrees. However, there is still more room for improvement by doing a commercial lighting retrofit with LEDs. Here are three reasons for this:
- LEDs consume less power. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, a 12 watt LED light puts out the same lighting as a 15 watt CFL light or a 60 watt incandescent light. This amounts to a 20% and 80% power reduction respectively. In addition, an LED light outperforms an energy-saving incandescent light by 72%.
- LEDs produce less heat. This is a consequence of its higher energy efficiency, since energy not converted to light becomes waste heat. Less heat production from LEDs places a smaller load on air conditioning, which saves on AC power consumption.
- LEDs can be turned on and off without a warm-up period and are easily dimmed. LEDs are compatible with smart control systems that use motion sensors to turn on lighting when someone enters a room, and turn off lighting when no one is present. It can be used with external lighting sensors that adjust LED brightness according to ambient light coming in from windows.
Summarizing, LEDs themselves consume less power, their reduced heat output means your AC system consumes less power, and you can easily use them more efficiently with automation technology.
