Lighting: Data Center Industry’s Next Frontier for Innovation
The Role of Lighting in Data Centers
Each component within a data center plays a crucial role in energy and efficiency optimization, one of which is lighting. Data centers, often referred to as server farms or IT hubs, are famous for generating substantial heat and greenhouse gas emissions, such as carbon and GHG emissions. Reducing these emissions is mission-critical, both for ethical reasons and operational efficiency, given our planet’s limited resources.
Moving Towards a Circular Economy
The current global consumption rate is unsustainable. Humanity is using resources 1.6 times faster than the Earth can regenerate. This unsustainable consumption showcases a dire need for a shift towards a more circular economy, a sustainable or closed-loop system that encourages the use of serviceable, reusable, refurbished, or recyclable luminaires.
Regulatory Changes Promoting a Paradigm Shift
Recent years have seen a positive shift towards principles of a circular economy, driven by regulatory changes and increased awareness around climate change. Governments’ commitments to circular economies are motivating businesses to adapt, promoting sustainability in the competitive landscape of data centers.
LED Lighting: A Step Toward Efficiency and Savings
Converting legacy warehouse lighting to energy-efficient LED lighting is a significant first step. LED lights offer up to 80% more efficiency than conventional light sources and last up to 25 times longer. This increased energy efficiency not only reduces lighting costs but also significantly cuts cooling expenditures due to lower heat generation.
Embracing Advanced Lighting Controls for Added Savings
Switching to LED lighting opens up further possibilities, like the implementation of advanced lighting controls. These systems can automatically adjust lighting based on activity, incorporating daylight-sensing, task setting, and occupancy detection to conserve energy effectively.
Circular Economy as Strategic Business Decision for Data Centers
Incorporating Circular Economy Principles
Data centers can embrace circular economy principles to reduce embedded impact. This could be through methods like waste heat and water recycling, and using sustainable building materials to lessen carbon footprints.
Serviceable and Recyclable Luminaires
In the realm of lighting, circular design principles come into play. Serviceable luminaires, such as the Quattro Triproof Batten, can be serviced, connected, and reused. Circular components, like drivers and LED boards, are designed with recyclability in mind.
3D Printing for Circular Lighting
3D printing brings another sustainable solution to the table. Luminaires made through 3D printing, like the SquareBeam Elite, can be upgraded instead of entirely replaced, preserving value and minimizing material waste while meeting required light output.
Light-as-a-Service (LaaS) Model for Sustainable Lighting
The LaaS model offers a sustainable approach, combining lighting design, installation, and maintenance in one contract. Built on the premise of circular lighting, this model reduces costs, cuts manpower requirements, and promotes sustainability by allowing customers to return, reuse, or recycle luminaires as needed.