IMDA launches sustainability standards for data centres in tropical markets

This will support increasing the operating DC temperature to 26 Degrees Celcius and above.

The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) unveiled the world’s first standard for optimising energy efficiency and developing a roadmap for data centres (DCs) operating in countries with tropical climates.

In a statement, the IMDA said cooling systems account for up to 40% of total energy consumption in a typical data centre, with many operators operating their equipment at 22 degrees Celcius and below temperature. 

However, there are more challenges in operating DC cooling systems in a warmer climate as they needed to use more energy.

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The new standard will help DCs to develop a roadmap that will support the gradual increase in operating temperatures to 26 Degrees Celcius and above which could result in 2% to 5% cooling energy savings as temperature increases by 1%.

IMDA added that the standard is aligned with other sustainable-related industry standards that would support sustainability in Singapore’s information and communications technology ecosystem.

It added that it will partner with the Building & Construction Authority to update the Green Mark scheme to encourage the adoption of the new standards in the country.

The new standard was piloted in several DC operators in Singapore, with IMDA partnering with various operators such as Digital Realty which increased its temperatures by two degrees Celcius at two of its 4.5-megawatt data halls, cutting total energy use by around 2% to 3% during the trial.