Green Data Cabinets Feature Editorial

GE Intelligent Platforms and Ingersoll-Rand Plc entered into a cooperative agreement to develop an automation platform to meet the energy and operational efficiency needs of data centers. Both the companies will work together to develop the world-class industrial solutions of GE and the industry-leading HVAC expertise of Trane (News - Alert), a business of Ingersoll Rand, a world leader in creating and sustaining safe, comfortable and efficient environments.

“With data centers currently consuming 1.5 percent of the United States’ total electrical output, and expected to grow by 12 percent per year, productivity and efficiency in data centers is taking a front and center role,” said Maryrose Sylvester (News - Alert), president and CEO of GE Intelligent Platforms, in a press release. “The goal of this agreement is to help customers around the world reduce operating costs, increase energy efficiency, and extend the life of assets.”

To develop joint solutions for data center customers that tackle asset optimization, platform integration, reporting and analytics across systems, and remote monitoring and services enablers, GE and Ingersoll Rand will work together. As per the agreement, Ingersoll Rand will have access to GE Intelligent Platforms’ (News - Alert) Proficy Software Platform for visualization, Advanced Analysis & Modeling and Remote Monitoring & Diagnostics, Proficy Process Systems for integrated software and high availability hardware applications for industrial and redundant control application requirements.

“A need for interconnecting facilities and accessing real-time data is driving a convergence between building automation and IT systems,” said Joel Lehman, vice president of global controls and smart products for Ingersoll Rand, in a press release. “The future trend is for data centers to become ‘intelligent’ through the use of integrated building control systems that incorporate an open architecture, integrated software tools allowing for information analysis, and integrated hardware infrastructure allowing for real-time control and management of the building functions including critical systems.”

Both the companies have worked together on a solution for GE’s Ohio-based data center which features 29,000 square feet of raised floor. Each year, the data center consumes 24 million kWh of power. GE, to help with the reduction of water and energy, is updating the data center with nearly 30 products from nine different GE businesses including power quality, chilled water, electrical, security and IT services equipment, coupled with Trane integrated systems with equipment and controls.

“Ultimately, this collaboration between GE and Ingersoll Rand improves the overall value of the building through solid operations management, performance and efficiency,” continued Sylvester in a statement. “By integrating all of the pieces that both companies bring to the table, we can effectively impact 60 percent of building energy use.”

Tracer XT a unique platform specifically designed to integrate, manage and optimize critical facility systems, is the first solution that the two companies will bring to market. The solution has the ability to integrate unlimited real-time applications including security, fire, safety, as well as HVAC and power distribution and monitoring using over 150 common communications protocols. It includes a hi-speed time stamp database, to allow for high-speed data collection, recording over 50,000 events per second.

By combining the strategies of redundancy of equipment, controls and workstations, these combined solutions will also deliver a high level of availability and uptime. An unprecedented breadth of capabilities and solutions is provided by the combination of Trane control solutions with GE’s industrial platforms.

To ensure that data center customers get the best of both Trane and GE in their critical system projects, Ingersoll Rand employees will be required to participate in a data center certification program.

In related news, Ingersoll Rand celebrates Earth Day's 40th anniversary by gathering together its employees in over 40 locations around the globe to host Earth Day recognition, education and community events.