Data Holdings, LLC Joins a Small Percentage of LEED Certified U.S. Data Centers
Milwaukee, WI, June 24, 2014 — The Potawatomi Business Development Corporation (PBDC)—the economic diversification arm of the Forest County Potawatomi—announced today that its one-year old data center, Data Holdings, LLC., has earned Gold certification by the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program. The 46,000 square-foot data center becomes Wisconsin’s first LEED Gold data center and joins a small distinguished group of companies, including Facebook, GM and Equinix, with LEED Gold data center facilities.
“This milestone, achieved by only a few in the data center industry, is a testimony to the value and integrity purposefully designed into this building as well as the environmental stewardship of the Forest County Potawatomi,” said Tom Devine, chief executive officer, PBDC. “In today’s best in class data centers, such as Data Holdings, it is imperative that technologies and practices to manage and protect data also minimize environmental impact and user and owner operational costs.”
Data Holdings which opened in May 2013 is southeast Wisconsin’s only wholesale, Tier III Enhanced, data center. The facility’s notable environmental and business features include a high-efficiency chilling system with airside economizer technology that provides data center users with year-round free-cooling when the outside air temperature dips below 60 degrees. The free-cooling capability contributes to Data Holding’s excellent Power Usage Effectiveness, or PUE, rating. The PUE measures how efficiently a data center uses power to cool the heat generated by the IT equipment, with a lower number demonstrating greater efficiency. The industry average is 1.8. Data Holding’s PUE is 1.28
“Data Holdings was designed to offer power, cooling and connectivity to data center users on par or better than similar facilities found in the largest of metropolitan areas,” explained Kip Ritchie, chief marketing officer, PBDC. “Our mission is to guarantee 100 percent up time to any organization that has its data stack within our four walls.”
The data center utilizes high-efficiency technologies for a number of functional and equipment needs including uninterruptable power supply, electronically commutated motors, lighting, water heating, and plumbing fixtures. A white roof with a Solar Reflective Index (SRI) of 110 (compared to standard roofs which typically have a SRI of 20) that reduces heat gain tops Data Holdings while water efficient, native plantings surround the building. Additionally, a storm water management system captures more than 80,000 gallons of storm runoff, thereby reducing flow to the city’s sewer system. A porous asphalt paved parking lot also helps manage storm water.
Data Holdings was built using sustainable construction practices. The project diverted more than 75 percent of the on-site generated construction waste away from the landfill. More than 20 percent of the building’s materials contain recycled content including carpet, porcelain tile and plastic laminate. And, to enhance indoor air quality and occupant comfort, selecting low and no VOC (volatile organic compound) materials was a priority.
“The construction and operational practices of Data Holdings reflect the Forest County Potawatomi’s broader values and our commitment to taking a leadership role in creating a sustainable and healthy world,” said Potawatomi Chairman Gus Frank.
Adding to the Tribe’s LEED certified portfolio, FCP also plans to pursue certification for the new 381-room hotel opening this summer at the Potawatomi Hotel and Casino in Milwaukee. Other environmental initiatives FCP has pursued include:
· Energy and water efficiency upgrades to the Tribe’s historic Wunder Hall building expected to reduce energy consumption by more than 50 percent. Wunder Hall is located on FCP’s Wgema Campus (formerly Concordia Trust Property) where PBDC is based.
· A 2-megawatt anaerobic digester and biogas generation facility near Potawatomi Hotel and Casino that converts food waste into a biogas that powers two generators and creates enough electricity to power approximately 1,500 homes.
· A 35-kilowatt (kW) rooftop solar photovoltaic array that powers the FCP’s Milwaukee administration building.
· The purchase of renewable energy credits that more than offsets FCP’s overall electric consumption.
As a result of these and other efforts, the FCP currently ranks as the number 10 Local Government for Green Power Usage in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Green Power Partners rankings.
“For Data Holdings, LEED Gold Certification is another important differentiator that will appeal to data center users looking to store their valuable information with organizations that share their enterprise’s values for both fiscal and environmental stewardship,” said Devine.
Learn more about the Data Holdings data center in a short video tour at http://dataholdings.biz/.
