Welcome to Keep Your Cool - a series tackling simple cooling optimization strategies for the busy data center operators by former busy data center operator, Gregg Haley.

Last week, I enjoyed a round of golf with my son during a heatwave, starting at a comfortable 7:00 AM but quickly facing the full brunt of the heat. As temperatures soared, our preparedness—packing a cooler full of ice-cold water and using insulated bottles—proved essential. Despite these precautions, I realized post-game that I had symptoms of mild dehydration, a reminder of the importance of hydration and proper heat management.

This experience underscores a crucial concern for data center professionals, particularly those working outdoors with switchgear yards or rooftop chillers, or indoors in hot aisles. The physical stress and heat exposure in these environments can mirror a grueling day on the golf course under the scorching sun. At Purkay Labs, we understand the risks associated with high heat indices and the critical nature of maintaining a safe working environment.

Our Thermal Survey services are specifically designed to address these challenges in data centers. Using advanced tools like AUDIT-BUDDY, we measure Heat Index and Wet Bulb Globe Temperature accurately and efficiently. This data is vital for data center managers to implement effective heat management strategies, ensuring that both the equipment and personnel are operating within safe and optimal conditions.

By monitoring environmental conditions precisely, Purkay Labs helps prevent the kind of heat-related issues that can lead to equipment failure or health risks for staff, akin to dehydration on a hot day out on the golf course. Ensuring you have the right data to manage cooling and hydration strategies effectively is as crucial in a technical setting as it is in everyday life.

So, whether you're hitting the links or managing a data center, remember the importance of staying cool and hydrated. And just for the record, while there were no birdies that day, the pars we made were satisfying, and some shots are best left unmentioned.

About Purkay Labs

Purkay Labs specializes in thermal surveys for efficient data center management. We offer practical solutions to optimize performance and sustainability. Partner with Purkay Labs to streamline your data center efficiency. You can learn more at www.purkaylabs.com.

If you want to learn more about why you need a thermal survey or need someone to come and conduct one for you, please contact us today.

About the Author

Gregg Haley is a data center and telecommunications executive with more than 30 years of leadership experience. Most recently served as the Senior Director of Data Center Operations - Global for Limelight Networks. Gregg provides data center assessment and optimization reviews showing businesses how to reduce operating expenses by identifying energy conservation opportunities. Through infrastructure optimization energy expenses can be reduced by 10% to 30%.
In addition to Gregg's data center efforts, he has a certification from the Disaster Recovery Institute International (DRII) as Business Continuity Planner. In November of 2005, Gregg was a founding member and Treasurer of the Association of Contingency Planners - Greater Boston Chapter, a non-profit industry association dedicated to the promotion and education of Business Continuity Planning. Gregg had served on the chapter's Board of Directors for the first four years. Gregg is also a past member of the American Society of Industrial Security (ASIS). Gregg currently serves as the Principal Consultant for Purkay Labs.