When I was a kid, one of my neighbors had a solar radiometer.  It’s a glass bulb about the size of a baseball, with diamond-shaped panels connected to a spindle.   The panels, black on one side and silver on the other, would turn on the spindle when exposed to light.

I enjoyed experimenting with the gizmo, edging it in and out of the sunbeam that shone through a window and onto their kitchen table.  How close to the light did the radiometer need to be for the panels to move? What if I shaded it with a piece of cardboard?  How fast would the spindle turn if I put the radiometer fully in the light? Read More »

Tags: alternative energy, Cisco, coc-data-center, data center, datacenterdeconstructed, power, radiometer, solar

Care for a candy cigar?

After months of anticipation and countless hours spent on the delivery, I’m happy to announce a new member to Cisco’s family.  Our newest Data Center has come into the world in Raleigh, North Carolina.  It’s 18,500 sq. ft. (1,719 sq. m.) in size and has 2.88 MW of capacity.  The parents are tired but otherwise doing fine.

Read More »

Tags: chimney cabinets, Cisco, coc-data-center, container, data center, datacenterdeconstructed, leed, Research Triangle Park, RTP, solar, waste heat, waterside economizer

Ah, weather – one of life’s multi-purpose tools.  Conversation filler (“Quite the weather we’re having.”), alleged indicator of world’s end and source of inspiration for comic book writers to empower heroes and villains alike.

Weather can also be a Data Center’s best friend.  Solar energy can be harvested to help generate power, for instance, such as is happening at Cisco’s Data Center in Allen, Texas.  (Look for the 100 kW solar array on the right side of the Data Center’s roof.)  Wind energy as well.  Rainwater can even be collected for cooling system usage or to irrigate landscaping.

Read More »

Tags: airside economizer, Cisco, coc-data-center, data center, datacenterdeconstructed, energy efficiency, Green, solar, wind

Another week is already behind us. Check out some of top stories of the week that include a feature story on implementing solar energy for the everyday person, a demo on Cisco TrustSec Security and the Visual Networking Forecast (VNI) for 2010-2015.

1.) Why Knowledge is (Solar) Power

Should you put solar panels on your roof? It’s a simple question, but not an easy one to answer. A startup company called Geostellar is developing an Internet-based platform that will help property owners figure out whether their homes or businesses are well suited for solar. Read more about this new development here!

Read More »

Tags: News@Cisco, solar, TelePresence, vni