Story by: Kelsey Naupari, Patriot Green Fund Coordinator
Mason Innovators: Engineering Students take on Energy Efficiency through Data Center Power Monitoring System Initiative
Data Centers are crucial to information management and technology infrastructure, yet many struggle with outdated energy monitoring systems. A team of forward-thinking undergraduates from Mason’s College of Engineering and Computing have stepped up to address this issue. Their Senior Design project, the Data Center Power Monitoring System, aims at enhancing energy efficiency in older data centers by introducing an advanced, user-friendly monitoring solution that provides real-time insights into power consumption at the individual server level.
Driving this innovative initiative are Fuad Fatani (BS in Electrical Engineering ’24), Nicolas Green (BS in Electrical Engineering ’24), Ethan Vo (BS in Electrical Engineering ’24), Benjamin Adams (BS in Computer Engineering ’24), Luis Niño Walder (BS in Computer Engineering ’24), and Vi An Nguyen (BS in Computer Engineering ’24). This team of six is not just addressing a technical challenge, they are contributing to a future where data center efficiency and sustainability go hand in hand, demonstrating the power of collaborative innovation to drive meaningful change in the tech industry.
Delving deeper into the project, the inception of the Data Center Power Monitoring System was sparked by an AWS initiative, as the students mentioned: “Originally, AWS approached our faculty supervisor, Dr. Tolga Soyata, for a project about a monitoring system for a data center at a more precise level for older data centers.” Despite lacking direct access to a data center, the students developed an emulation environment, creatively overcoming this limitation to meet the project’s goals.
On the projects impact, the students emphasized its potential for sustainability: “Data Centers are notoriously expensive, power and cost wise, and any help in reducing their consumption would not only save money, but emissions too.” Their system aims to enhance efficiency and quicken the identification of power issues, offering a significant step toward energy and cost saving that has the potential to influence beyond the University’s campus.
Navigating the projects' technical demand and complexities, the students encountered challenges, especially in the hardware integration phase, which involved a network of 20PCs and 60sensors. They shared how intricate the process was, noting, “We faced countless issues with wiring and integration.” Their solution to overcome this obstacle— utilizing Ethernet cables to power and ground the sensors— showcasing their abilities and commitment to innovate under constraints, to carry out their project.
External support for the team’s research initiative played a crucial role in ensuring their projects success. The team gratefully acknowledged the role of the Patriot Green Fund, stating, “PGF’s support was instrumental to this project’s success, as without it, we would not have the main two sensors of the project and the main ‘brains’ of our system, the Raspberry Pis.” With PGF’s $750 funding, the team was able to acquire crucial equipment, supporting the project’s journey towards its ambitious goals.
As the team wraps up their implementation phase, the team shared some wisdom for those interested in pursuing and executing their sustainability projects: “Start early!” they emphasized. Their advice highlights their experience, demonstrating that proactive planning and time management are crucial for the success of any project.