Friday, November 18, 2011

Facebook's Oregon Data Center Gets Energy Cert

Social networking service Facebook reported Thursday evening that its Prineville, Oregon data center has received a LEED Gold Certification, from the U.S. Green Building Council. The certification is issued by the council to building projects meeting certain energy efficiency and green building design goals. Facebook has been working on making its Prineville data center one of the most energy efficient in the world, the company said, and currently takes 52 percent less energy to operate versus comparable facilities. Facebook selected Prineville in part to meet those goals; the company is using the climate in Central Oregon to eliminate the need for traditional air conditioning, instead using outside air evaporative cooling for the center.