Green Grid releases green data center resources

Looks like The Green Grid is getting deeper into the Green IT tools business.

The organization has launched a free online site with maps that data center managers in Japan and 33 European countries can use to figure out the extent to which they can use free cooling (the process of sucking in outside air to keep things from heating up too much). The calculator lets you plug in country and city names along with things like IT load and facility load, so that a data center manager can gather a picture of whether or not they can save substantially using free cooling.

The Green Grid also has established a database for companies to submit their Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) scores. In exchange for logging your company's data, you get to look at how you compare with other organizations in your same industry OR (how novel!) within a different division of your own company.

Also, keep an eye out for forthcoming tools from the Green Grid and the U.S. Department of Energy. Green Grid is working with the DOE to refine its DC Pro software suite with common energy metrics between Green Grid applications and the Energy Star portfolio and an IT energy assessment module. The two are also working on a Certified Energy Practitioner program to bring more consistency to assessments and audits.