MILWAUKEE, June 30, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — Data Holdings, LLC, announced today that the one-year old data center 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," said Dan McGrath, a data center industry executive with more than 30 years' experience and CEO of NewAge Data Center Solutions, which operates the data center. "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 Holdings' 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 Ian Favill, who leads business development for Data Holdings. "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.
"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 Favill.
Data Holdings is located on Milwaukee's near west side in a strategically ideal location because of access to diverse power sources and multiple fiber carriers, each which provides the necessary redundancy and back up data center customers require. Additionally, the location poses no threats and vicinity risks that have the potential to disrupt power or connectivity, and as such jeopardize data access and integrity. Further Data Holdings' proximity to Illinois makes the data center attractive to businesses in Chicago and Northern Illinois.
Learn more about the Data Holdings data center in a short video tour at http://dataholdings.biz/
Data Holdings is owned and was developed by the Potawatomi Business Development Corporation (PBDC)—the economic diversification arm of the Forest County Potawatomi.
ABOUT DATA HOLDINGS, LLC: Data Holdings is a wholesale, Tier III Enhanced, carrier neutral data center that brings an unprecedented level of technology, security, reliability and affordability to southeastern Wisconsin and Northern Illinois. The facility, with redundancy in every system, was designed by TMI, one of the nation's most experienced data center services companies. TMI affiliate NewAge Data Center Solutions manages and operates Data Holdings.
ABOUT THE POTAWATOMI BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION: The Potawatomi Business Development Corporation is owned and operated by the Forest County Potawatomi Community of Wisconsin. The Corporation seeks to diversify Potawatomi business interests beyond gaming in an effort to secure the future of the Potawatomi tribe for the next 7 generations and beyond. Business holdings include: One Prospect Technologies, Advancia Corporation, Advancia Aeronautics, Potawatomi Training, Advancia Technologies, Redhawk Network Security, Data Holdings and Greenfire Management Services.
Media Contact: Pam Kassner, 414-510-1838, Email