LEED Gold for Intel's Newest Data Center

IDC-9-atrium-470

This rooftop atrium shaft allows for maximum sunlight utilization inside the building, which reduces energy spent on electrical lighting.

Intel has been building powerhouse data centers for a long time. With more than 100,000 servers, it has a huge footprint of mission-critical facilities. But the company's new IDC 9 data center in Haifa, Israel marks Intel's first foray into facilities designed to meet the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standard for energy efficient buildings.

Intel (INTC) said today that it has earned a LEED Gold rating for IDC 9, which is scheduled to open in June and features numerous design and technology innovations. The chipmaker said it expects to reduce its baseline energy needs at the facility by using the latest versions of its  Xeon processors, expected annual savings of $200,000.

The initial 7,000 square foot phase of IDC-9 will house 220 racks fitted with rack-top chimney systems to contain waste heat, which will then be used to warm the office space in the building. The data center also employs a thermal storage system, which provides additional cooling to operate the data center should the primary cooling system fail.

The building has also been designed to make extensive use of natural light, a key component of the LEED standard. It features an atrium with a rooftop exposure, and an automatic control system that regulates the flow of natural light, exposing more than 75 percent of the most populated areas of the building to sunlight. There's also a rooftop garden to enhance thermal insulation and prevent the building from retaining excessive heat.

Intel says that these design features provide IDC 9 with a 17 percent reduction in total building energy use compared with typical buildings that follow the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) 90.1-2007 standard.

“Intel is committed to incorporating principles of sustainability into the construction of new facilities as well as making strategic improvements to our existing locations so that they may meet the highest standards,” said Brian Krzanich, senior vice president and general manager of Manufacturing and Supply Chain for Intel. “By assigning equal priorities to economic, social and environmental goals, IDC 9 has managed to provide Intel with economic advantages while reducing environmental impact.”

Intel said that it also hopes to gain LEED Gold certification for the company’s Ocotillo campus in Chandler, Ariz.

Here's a look at the outside of the IDC-9 facility in Haifa: 

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The exterior of Intel's IDC 9 in Haifa, Israel, which just recevied LEED Gold certification.