PORTLAND, OR--(Marketwire - Aug 16, 2012) - The Green Building Initiative (GBI) announces that Internap Network Services Corporation, a provider of intelligent IT Infrastructure services, Santa Clara data center has received a two Green Globes certification for new construction. The certification follows an on-site detailed review process by a GBI Assessor. By making Green Globes energy suggestions and receiving 100% in the Environmental Protection Agency's energy performance rating system, Internap achieved a 49% reduction in energy use for this facility.
Internap's Santa Clara Data Center is an existing reused two story 71,954 square foot office and data center located in Santa Clara, California. The building's existing structure included a large space for a data center and opportunities to incorporate green building standards (especially energy savings) which made it a logical choice to go through Green Globes. The facility utilized a combination of building reuse, minimum site disturbance, and energy conservation to create a new work environment that was productive and environmentally friendly.
A green building guidance and assessment program, Green Globes helps commercial building owners advance environmental performance and sustainability through a rigorous online assessment and comprehensive site visit and evaluation by an independent, third-party Assessor. To achieve Green Globes certification, Internap adhered to numerous standards including consuming fewer fossil fuels, reducing greenhouse emissions, conserving water, reducing other forms of pollution, and offering a better working environment for occupants.
"Pertinent features of the Green Globes online program such as no prerequisites, being able to assign 'non-applicable' to certain criterion and receiving partial points on questions make this a dynamic certification program for data centers," said Dan Prows of Morrison Hershfield and consultant to the project.
Specific highlights that contributed to Internap's Green Globes certification at its Santa Clara facility include:
- Water conservation - Internap's Santa Clara Facility is the first commercial data center operator in California to use reclaimed water rather than potable water in the cooling towers.
- Energy efficiency - Green Globes suggested changes included aggressive use of high-efficiency lighting, and HVAC systems and controls in the office area which showed a decrease in power consumption by more than 30% compared to similar facilities that were awarded green certification.
- Green Power - Internap chose to supplement the office area's electrical load by purchasing 100% of its electricity from renewable sources. This purchase of more than 400,000 kWh of renewal energy credits is helping to avoid 487,585 pounds of CO2.
- Reuse of building materials - To renovate the building, Internap reused more than 99% of the exterior structural components, avoiding the diversion of nearly 85% of its construction waste to landfills.
"With energy use spiraling in data centers, it has become more important than ever to drive efficiencies across all possible areas throughout the data center -- from design and equipment to operations and processes," said Randy Ortiz, director of data center design and engineering at Internap. "Working with the Green Building Initiative helped us to realize our goals of attaining the highest environmental efficiency standards at our Santa Clara data center and continues to set the bar for our new facilities going forward."
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Green Building Initiative (GBI)
GBI is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to accelerate the adoption of building practices that result in energy-efficient, healthier and environmentally sustainable buildings by promoting credible and practical green building approaches for commercial construction. GBI is the exclusive U.S. licensee of Green Globes®, a web-based green building guidance and assessment program that offers an effective, practical and affordable way to advance the overall environmental performance and sustainability of commercial buildings. www.thegbi.org
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