Annual ranking of the greenest IT projects recognizes innovative
underground facility
BOSTON, Apr 23, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) --Iron
Mountain Incorporated (NYSE: IRM), an information management
services company, announced today that one of its underground data
centers has been named to IDG's InfoWorld Green 15, an annual
ranking of the most innovative green IT projects. The Green 15
recognizes organizations from around the world that have embraced green
technology to drive projects and develop products aimed at boosting
energy efficiency, trimming waste, and reducing or eliminating the use
or the production of harmful substances.
Average data centers require enormous energy to power and cool stacks of
computer servers that must run year round. Seeking to cut this energy
consumption for the massive volumes of customer data it manages, Iron
Mountain conceived and built "Room 48," a highly efficient data center
located 200 feet underground in a former limestone mine in Western
Pennsylvania.
Room 48 is two times more efficient than traditional data centers
because it takes advantage of its unique subterranean environment. The
mine's steady temperature of 55 degrees and the sponge-like ability of
the limestone walls to absorb heat eliminate the need for typical data
center cooling systems that consume large amounts of power and squeeze
space.
"We are honored to be named among the greenest IT projects in the
world," said Bill Brown, senior vice president, chief information
officer, Iron Mountain. "Our customers require us to manage their
digital information in a way that's secure and accessible, but also
cost-effective and efficient. Our data centers, and particularly Room
48, provide that security, access and efficiency. Room 48 uses nature's
'technology' and offers a blueprint for creating a new kind of data
center that harnesses both technology and unique natural properties."
Room 48 rejects traditional datacenter designs in favor of concepts that
reduce the amount of heat emitted inside the room. Among these
strategies is a "cool-air containment" configuration that increases
cool-air flow between server racks and ceiling vents. The room is also
staffed only 20 percent of the time allowing it to utilize
motion-sensor, low-heat lighting. Cooling units sit outside the room,
which operates at 2-3 degrees warmer than traditional datacenters. These
design modifications and others have combined to boost the datacenter's
power efficiency by 50 percent, improve space efficiency by 30 percent
and drastically reduce both energy consumption and costs.
"This year's crop of Green 15 winners demonstrates how organizations of
all sizes are finding innovative ways to use information technology to
achieve critical and often complementary environmental and business
objectives," said Ted Samson, senior analyst, InfoWorld.
"Increasingly, companies are moving beyond out-of-the-box products and
siloed approaches to making IT itself greener. They're leveraging
technology as part of a broader, holistic effort to make operations as a
whole greener."
To view an exclusive slideshow of photos of Room 48, please visit http://www.ironmountain.com/make-every-day-earth-day.
About InfoWorld Media Group
InfoWorld Media Group helps IT decision makers choose the right
technology, within the context of a cohesive strategy for business
impact at their organizations. InfoWorld identifies and promotes
emerging technology segments that add unique value for the organizations
that implement them, as well as the vendors that provide those
solutions. Using an integrated communications approach including online,
events, research, and a continued investment in an independent Test
Center, InfoWorld analysts and editors provide hands-on analysis
and evaluation, as well as expert commentary on issues surrounding
emerging technologies and products. Visit InfoWorld at http://www.infoworld.com.
About International Data Group
International Data Group (IDG) is the world's leading technology media,
events, and research company. IDG's online network includes more than
450 web sites spanning business technology, consumer technology, digital
entertainment and video games worldwide. IDG also publishes more than
300 magazines and newspapers in 85 countries. IDG's media brands include CIO,
CSO, Computerworld, GamePro, InfoWorld, Macworld,
Network World, and PC World. IDG's lead-generation
service, IDG Connect, matches technology companies with an audience of
engaged, high-quality IT professionals, influencers, and decision
makers. IDG is a leading producer of more than 750 technology-related
events including Macworld Conference & Expo, LinuxWorld Conference &
Expo, Entertainment for All Expo (E for All), DEMO, Storage Networking
World, and IDC Directions. IDC, a subsidiary of IDG, is the premier
global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events.
Over 900 IDC analysts in more than 90 countries provide global,
regional, and local expertise on technology and industry opportunities
and trends. Additional information about IDG, a privately held company,
is available at http://www.idg.com.
About Iron Mountain
Iron Mountain Incorporated (NYSE: IRM) provides information management
services that help organizations lower the costs, risks and
inefficiencies of managing their physical and digital data. The
company's solutions enable customers to protect and better use their
information--regardless of its format, location or lifecycle stage--so
they can optimize their business and ensure proper recovery, compliance
and discovery. Founded in 1951, Iron Mountain manages billions of
information assets, including business records, electronic files,
medical data, emails and more for organizations around the world. Visit www.ironmountain.com
or follow the company on Twitter @IronMountainInc for more information.
Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6262536&lang=en
SOURCE: Iron Mountain Incorporated
Iron Mountain
Christian Potts, 617-535-8721
Christian.Potts@ironmountain.com
or
Weber Shandwick
Kristen Georgian, 617-520-7042
KGeorgian@webershandwick.com