The First Facility Management Blog

AT&T Inc. announced its affiliate, AT&T Services Inc., has joined The Green Grid, the global consortium dedicated to advancing energy efficiency in data centers and business computing ecosystems. AT&T also announced it will supply data center performance information to assist the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in developing a new ENERGY STAR rating for data center infrastructure.

Membership in The Green Grid and participation in the ENERGY STAR data center initiative underscore AT&T’s commitment to minimize the environmental impact of its operations and to work collaboratively with industry organizations and suppliers to identify optimal solutions and best practices.

The Green Grid works to provide industry wide recommendations and best practices on metrics and technologies that will improve energy efficiency in data centers around the world. As a Contributor Member of The Green Grid, AT&T is taking an important role in cooperating with other leading companies to reduce energy consumption and related data center costs.

“The Green Grid is proud to welcome AT&T as a Contributor Member of the consortium,” said Mark Monroe, a director of The Green Grid. “AT&T brings a breadth of knowledge and experience in the field of communications. The Green Grid is looking forward to collaborating with AT&T and leveraging its expertise to help further the organization’s mission.”

In an effort to improve energy efficiency in the data center industry, the EPA is developing an ENERGY STAR Data Center Infrastructure Rating. This new rating will help data center operators assess the energy performance of their buildings’ infrastructure and identify buildings with the greatest opportunity for improvement, allowing them to capture the financial and environmental benefits of improved energy efficiency in their facilities. The initiative will ultimately enable data center facilities to earn ENERGY STAR certification for superior energy efficiency. To assist in the development of this rating, AT&T has committed to monitoring select company data centers and submit energy data to the EPA during the next 12 months.

“EPA is very pleased to have AT&T’s support for the development of the ENERGY STAR rating for data center infrastructure,” said Mike Zatz, manager of EPA’s ENERGY STAR Commercial Buildings Program. “It is only with the active involvement of industry leaders like AT&T that EPA will be able to provide the data center industry with the information it needs to most effectively improve the energy efficiency of these critical facilities.”

“Data center electricity use has been growing rapidly in recent years, roughly doubling from 2000 to 2005,” said Jonathan Koomey, Ph.D., staff scientist, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratories and consulting professor, Stanford University. “There’s significant potential for improving energy efficiency in those facilities, and many large companies are starting to make the institutional and technological changes needed to capture that efficiency. In this case, businesses can save money and reduce pollution at the same time.”

Honeywell announced today that Dr. Ian Shankland, director of technology for Honeywell’s fluorine products business, has been awarded the 2008 Perkin Medal by the Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).

The Perkin Medal is one of the most prestigious honors given in the chemical industry and is awarded to a scientist who has provided innovation in applied chemistry, resulting in outstanding commercial development. Shankland won the award for his successful work to develop alternatives to ozone depleting chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), which had been commonly used in refrigerants, aerosols, blowing agents, solvents, and sterilant gases.

“This is well deserved recognition for Ian’s enormous contributions to the science of fluorocarbons, and their important role in helping to solve one of the greatest global challenges of our time,” said Ray Stark, vice president of technology for Honeywell specialty materials. Fluorine products is part of the specialty materials strategic business group.

“Ian’s strength as a technologist is further enhanced by his ability to convert science to useful commercial applications, which is a key criteria for Perkin Medal recipients and also a great source of value for Honeywell customers,” added Terrence Hahn, vice president and general manager of fluorine products.

The Perkin Medal was established in 1906 to commemorate the discovery of the first synthetic aniline dye by Sir William Henry Perkin. Perkin was a founding member of SCI and was also the first recipient of the award. Shankland will receive the award at the Annual Perkin Medal dinner in Philadelphia on September 18.

Since joining Honeywell more than 25 years ago, Shankland has led teams that have screened and tested many compounds in search of economically and commercially viable environmentally preferable substitutes aligned with the timely phase out of CFCs and HCFCs, including HFC-245fa, a zero ozone depleting blowing agent for polyurethane foam applications; and R-410A and R-507 refrigerants for air conditioning and stationary refrigeration applications.

Most recently, Shankland has led Honeywell’s research effort at the Buffalo, NY facility to discover and commercialize low global warming refrigerants and blowing agents. As a result of this effort, Honeywell recently announced a new material to replace HFC-134, a refrigerant for mobile air conditioning in Europe, and a solution for certain foam applications in Europe.

Shankland earned his doctorate in physical chemistry from the Adelaide University, Australia, and was awarded a post-doctoral fellowship at Brown University, where he worked for three years prior to Honeywell. He is an inventor on 49 U.S. patents and has published numerous technical and scientific papers.

Prior Perkin Medalists include: Edwin Land of Polaroid; Gordon Moore, co-founder of Intel; and Robert Gore, inventor of Gore-Tex. Among past winners are also Edith M. Flanigen and Vladimir Haensel, both of UOP, a Honeywell company.

The Society of Chemical Industry (SCI) is a unique international forum where science meets business on independent, impartial ground. Anyone can join, and the Society offers a chance to share information between sectors as diverse as food and agriculture, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, environmental science and safety. Originally established in 1881, SCI is a registered charity with individual members in over 70 countries. Its international headquarters are in London, and it has offices in the U.S., Canada, Australia, India, and mainland Europe. Ever since its foundation, SCI’s principal objective has been to further the application of chemistry and related sciences for the public benefit.

More than 100 of the company’s employees traveled to Alexandria, VA to help six non-profit organizations in the city. As part of a Herman Miller conference, Alexandria benefitted from a staff volunteer day. Rebuilding Together Alexandria (RTA) orchestrated various volunteer projects at non-profits, from playing games with seniors and painting to landscaping and interacting with children.

“To be a part of the community means you roll up your sleeves and work with neighboring organizations to help make the lives of those they serve better,” said Katharine Medina, executive director of RTA. “Through these efforts, [the] Herman Miller volunteers were able to positively impact thousands of Alexandria residents.”

Herman Miller volunteers completed projects for ALIVE, the Art League, Community Lodgings, the Boys & Girls Club, the Seaport Foundation, and the St. Martin de Porres Senior Center. Whether they were gardening and mulching or playing Bingo with the seniors, the volunteers expressed their enjoyment of participating in the activities.

“We had a lot of fun working with the non-profits and hopefully made a dent in the work that each of these agencies need. We like to give back in communities where we’re hosting a conference and it was wonderful to be able to work at so many facilities in Alexandria that needed our help,” said Sally Gruppen of Herman Miller. In addition, many of the individual volunteers, as well as Herman Miller, made donations to the non-profit at which they volunteered.

RTA and its volunteers assisted 91 homeowners and non-profit agencies this year. Whether it is plumbing, electrical work, or general handyman jobs, nearly 800 volunteers annually make a difference in their neighborhoods.

About Herman Miller, Inc.
The designs and services of Herman Miller enhance the performance of human habitats worldwide. The company’s award-winning products, complemented by furniture management and strategic consulting services, generated more than $2 billion in revenue during fiscal 2008.

About Rebuilding Together Alexandria (RTA)
Over the past 21 years, RTA has partnered with hundreds of volunteers to repair more than 1,000 homes in the City of Alexandria. Rebuilding Together Alexandria works year-round to repair and revitalize homes for homeowners in need, including elderly, disabled and families with children. RTA also takes groups of volunteers to the Gulf to rebuild homes destroyed by hurricanes Katrina and Rita.