365 Main's San Francisco data center.
(WEB HOST INDUSTRY REVIEW) — Data center operator 365 Main (www.365main.com) announced on Tuesday that the company is now offering space at its flagship San Francisco facility for the first time since Q4 2006.
The company cites customer participation in Pacific Gas & Electric’s High Tech Energy Efficiency Program, which strives to reduce energy consumption through the use of virtualization software, as one of the reasons the facility now has capacity.
The PG&E program encourages the implementation of such projects by paying incentives for energy-efficient equipment and initiatives, including using virtualization technology.
Launched in 2006, more than 150 Northern California companies have filed applications for server virtualization/consolidation projects.
To qualify for the PG&E incentives, 365 Main’s customers were required to apply to the program before beginning the project, and making their installation available for pre- and post-inspections to ensure removal of equipment.
In addition to the PG&E program, 365 Main has made other efforts to reduce energy consumption in its data centers.
In March 2008, 365 Main became the first data center operator to join energy-efficiency certification provider EPA Energy Star as a partner, while its Oakland, California data center joined the “Savings by Design” program.
The program is sponsored in part by PG&E to encourage data center projects that reduce energy consumption, providing data center operators with incentives in exchange.
Also announced on Tuesday, data center operator Advanced Data Centers received the largest-ever reward from the Savings by Design program.
Some of 365 Main’s San Francisco customers participating in the virtualization program have cut their energy consumption by up to 20 percent, freeing up capacity that is available now for new or existing customers. Several other customers are expected to participate in the virtualization program in 2009.
Additionally, two high-growth customers have moved to 365 Main’s Oakland facility to access larger amounts of space and power not available in the San Francisco data center, says the company.
Data center industry analyst firm Tier 1 Research (www.t1r.com) recently named the San Francisco Bay Area the top data center market in the United States.
In its annual supply/demand report published in Q4 2008, Tier 1 discovered that facilities in the region were on average 70 percent full, with usage expected to reach 95 percent in 2012.
The company predicted that demand in the region will grow at a rate of 15 to 18 percent per year over the next four years, while supply will only grow at 6 to 9 percent annually during the the same time.
This significant discrepancy in supply and demand has prompted many companies to secure available capacity as quickly as possible.
The San Francisco Bay Area is also deemed an ideal area for its availability of power, ample optical fiber routing, regional fiber exchange points and proximity to the region’s many businesses, says the report.
“We’re pleased our customers can benefit from the innovative programs PG&E has developed to curb energy use,” says Chris Dolan, 365 Main president and CEO. “The available capacity will directly serve existing or new customers looking to expand or move into 365 Main’s founding facility.”
Dolan said 365 Main has leased over 95 percent of available capacity across its five data center portfolio. In the press release, the company says it is “currently planning for expansion in new and existing regions.”
