NetApp Receives $1.4 Million Rebate From PG&E

NetApp was recognized for its continued environmental stewardship to improve its energy efficiency, conserve resources, and reduce waste.

Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) presented NetApp with a rebate of $1,427,477 under PG&E’s Non-Residential New Construction Program, which encourages PG&E’s commercial, industrial, high-technology, and agricultural customers to implement energy-efficient building and process design and construction. NetApp’s rebate is the largest new construction incentive PG&E has ever awarded. NetApp received the rebate for the design of its new Sunnyvale engineering data center and the measures it implemented to more efficiently provide power and decrease the energy needed for cooling. Upgrades included environmentally friendly flywheel uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems, energy-efficient transformers, outside air economizers, and a variable primary chiller plant.

As a result of NetApp’s energy efficiency improvements, its data center is projected to operate at power usage effectiveness (PUE) of less than 1.3, which is considered a best-in-class metric for data center energy efficiency. In addition, PG&E estimates that NetApp will save more than 11,100,000 kilowatt-hours each year, which represents a savings of more than $1,178,000 and a reduction of carbon dioxide emissions by 3,391 tons annually.

“We commend NetApp for making energy efficiency a priority and committing to reducing power consumption in their facilities,” said Mark Bramfitt, principal program manager of Customer Energy Management for PG&E. “NetApp is an example of how our customers can partner with PG&E to implement a strategy to reduce their demand for energy and realize significant cost savings for their business.”

NetApp Headquarters Certified a Green Business
NetApp was also awarded Green Business certification as part of the Green Business Program in the County of Santa Clara, California. The program, which was developed in partnership with local governments and businesses and environmental and waste management agencies, is voluntary. It recognizes businesses that commit to going beyond compliance with environmental regulations and to implementing measures in support of energy conservation, pollution prevention, solid-waste reduction, recycling, and conservation of water and resources.

NetApp was recognized for its companywide programs that dramatically reduce the amount of local landfill waste and impact on the environment. Every year, NetApp diverts and recycles millions of pounds of waste materials that would otherwise be sent to a landfill. Reuse is a constant theme at NetApp. Employees use reusable food and beverage containers to help reduce waste. Additionally, the company mulches grass and composts organic materials. NetApp also holds recycling events for employees’ home e-waste, such as old cell phones, televisions, and computers.

“From our data center design to our efforts to reduce facilities waste, we are implementing strategies to create greater efficiencies across numerous areas of our business,” said Laura Pickering, vice president, Office of the CEO, and NetApp’s environmental responsibility advocate. “We are extremely thankful that PG&E and the Green Business Program acknowledged our efforts. Not only are we committed to improving our energy efficiency and waste reduction programs, but also to sharing our best practices with customers to help them achieve success and understand how these initiatives can impact their businesses.”

Through the efforts of a cross-organizational team, NetApp has successfully optimized its energy efficiencies. To date, NetApp has achieved the energy efficiency that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends for 2011 state-of-the-art data centers and expects its new data centers to match the EPA’s 2011 maximum achievable scenario. As a result of its efforts, NetApp has significantly reduced its impact on the environment and reaped millions of dollars in savings.