Financial incentives are available to support the installation of improved airflow management control systems that ensure the efficient provision of cooling in your data center.

Under PG&E's Nonresidential Retrofit program, retrofitting existing data centers with premium efficiency chillers, pumps and fans; installing variable frequency drives; implementing air-side and water-side free cooling strategies; and upgrading UPS equipment and power distribution systems are all eligible for financial incentives.

PG&E offers two levels of data center airflow management services. For small and large data centers, we offer temporary metering and monitoring equipment to determine a baseline. After implementing best practices, incentives are paid based on decreased cooling system energy use.

For large data centers, we offer the Data Center Cooling Control Program, which installs permanent measurement and control equipment to optimize airflow.

PG&E offers incentives for thin client, zero client, and select software solutions for desktop virtualization.

For more information, view the Desktop Virtualization Tech Brief (PDF, 534 KB).

Incentives are available for new data-storage systems that make use of thin provisioning technology and for MAID systems.

• Energy-Efficiency Baselines for Cleanrooms (PDF, 201 KB)
• Energy-Efficiency Baselines for Data Centers (PDF, 336 KB)
• Energy-Efficiency Baselines for Laboratories (PDF, 203 KB)
• Best Practices for Cleanrooms (PDF, 2.4 MB)
• Best Practices for Data Centers (PDF, 2.5 MB)
• Best Practices for Laboratories (PDF, 3.9 MB)

• 365 Main Inc. (PDF, 111 KB)
• Adema Technologies (PDF, 87 KB)
• Adobe Systems (PDF, 677 KB)
• Yahoo! (PDF, 328 KB)
• Sybase (PDF, 285 KB)

• Desktop Virtualization Tech Brief (PDF, 534 KB)
• Energy-Efficiency Solutions for Data Centers Fact Sheet (PDF, 986 KB)

PG&E has a team of qualified engineers and design consultants who have extensive experience with high tech facilities and are well aware of best practices in reducing load while improving uptime. PG&E can also provide guidance on power quality and reliability for facilities including datacenters, clean-rooms, and laboratories.

PG&E offers a variety of programs tailored to the specific needs and energy efficiency goals of each customer. Programs may include rebates, incentives for customized calculations, or technical assistance and contracted services from third parties. Please contact your account representative or the PG&E Business Customer Service Center for more information and guidance in assessing your particular situation.

• Use cloud computing for your datacenters and desktops.
• Leverage "power capping" software or slow down workloads during an event.
• In laboratories, reschedule engineering tests to occur before or after an event.
• Raise set point temperature by a few degrees.

• Turn off non-essential indoor/outdoor lighting, signage, window displays and office equipment not in use (i.e., printers, copiers, shredders, coffee makers).
• Turn off decorative features, such as fountains, lighting and ambient audio and video displays.
• Pre-cool non-critical work areas, then cycle constant air volume heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) units or temporarily reset static pressure in variable air. volume HVAC, turn off ceiling fans and room fans, and raise temperature settings.
• Implement load-cycling, temperature resetting, and pre-cooling in facilities with package AC units.
• Turn off beverage vending machines and shift use of icemakers before or after an event.
• Schedule meetings during events to minimize use of office equipment.
• Charge batteries and battery-operated equipment prior to an event, then unplug battery chargers and use only pre-charged equipment during the event.
• Adjust non-critical employee schedules to reduce energy use during planned events.
• Turn off non-essential pumping equipment.
• Turn off or turn down chillers, and reset chilled water temperature or variable speed drive controls.