How a Lithium-Ion UPS Can Help You Achieve LEED Certification

In a previous post, we discussed the benefits of lithium-ion batteries over valve-regulated lead-acid (VRLA) batteries in uninterruptible power supply (UPS) applications. Additionally, the right UPS can help you achieve LEED certification.

For many organizations, efforts to reduce energy consumption in the data center have a dual purpose: optimize costs and support corporate social responsibility efforts toward “green” practices. Both objectives can be met by working toward LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification.

The LEED program operates under the auspices of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), a nonprofit association that promotes sustainability in building design, construction, and operation. The four-tier certification system is based upon points that are awarded for six categories of sustainability efforts:

• site location and transportation
• site sustainability
• indoor environmental quality
• materials and resources
• water efficiency
• energy and atmosphere

In the data center, smart choices in infrastructure design and implementation can help organizations earn LEED credits. Even the use of high-efficiency uninterruptible power supply (UPS) units can facilitate certification efforts by earning points in the energy and atmosphere category.

Types of LEED Certifications

LEED certifications for commercial buildings fall into three primary categories: Building Design, Interior Design and Construction, and Building Operations and Maintenance categories. Building Design Certification comprises new construction/major renovations and includes the LEED-NC (new construction) and LEED-CS (core and shell) certifications. The Interior Design and Construction category includes the LEED-CI (commercial interiors) certification for office space, retail environment, and hospitality.

The Building Operations and Maintenance category would likely be the best fit for existing data centers. Organizations that improve the sustainability of their data center facilities can earn credits toward the LEED-EBOM (existing buildings operations and maintenance) certification.

Buildings can earn up to 100 points across the six sustainability categories, with up to six additional points for design innovation and four for regional priority. The credit tiers are:

• Certified — 40 to 49 points
• Silver — 50 to 59 points
• Gold — 60 to 79 points
• Platinum — 80 or more points

Energy Optimization Credits

Before earning credits in the energy and atmosphere category toward the LEED-EBOM certification, data centers must complete certain prerequisites. This includes an energy audit, documentation of current operations and maintenance procedures, and energy usage metering.

Data centers then earn points for taking steps to optimize energy performance above the baseline established in the prerequisites. For existing buildings, up to 20 points are awarded for increasing energy performance by 8 percent to 44 percent. Data centers can also receive up to three points for implementing fully automated solutions that help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and make energy generation and distribution systems more efficient.

How Enconnex UPSs Support LEED Certification

Enconnex offers a complete line of rack mount UPSs. Available in power capacities ranging from 800 VA to 10 kVA, in online (double-conversion) and line-interactive battery topologies, and energy-efficient lithium-ion (LiFePO4) as well as standard lead-acid battery compositions. Our UPSs provide clean and reliable backup power for critical IT equipment and feature best-in-class features such as load shedding, auto-restart, and pure sine wave outputs. Customers can bundle Enconnex UPSs with our line of EdgeRack micro data center cabinets for a complete, prefabricated solution. Contact our team to learn more about how we can optimize your environment.