Ultraspeed’s initiative is designed to increase the features and reliability of its service whilst massively reducing the power required to run its data centre.

The switch to DC power adds significant additional power efficiencies. Currently, most AC power supplies operate at just 75% efficiency – 25% is wasted and converted to heat. DC power operates at approximately 93% efficiency and much of the excess thermal load can be shifted outside of the server so doesn’t need to be actively cooled.  The cooling element is particularly important since it is estimated that for every 100 watts used to power a server, typically an additional 60-70 watts is needed to cool it. In total DC power can save around 30% of a data centre’s entire energy consumption.

The third element of Ultraspeed’s offering involves the use of Intel Xeon 5300 low-voltage processors. Using the 5300’s quad core technology maximises performance on a physically smaller chip and produces more computing power per watt of electricity used, negating the need for a larger number of processors generating greater heat volumes.

Jordan Gross, Commercial Director at Ultraspeed comments: “It’s time for the IT industry to recognise that additional features and functionality in a managed hosting environment can be achieved in parallel with a substantial reduction in the associated carbon footprint. The inherent stability and efficiency of DC power has been known for years yet very few companies operating large server farms actually use it. With a potential reduction in overall carbon emissions from that initiative alone of around 30%, this is inexcusable.”