Sustainability & Environmental Impact

Award Winner - Glaxo SmithKline and Johnson Controls

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Sustainability & Environmental Impact

GSK and Johnson Controls - Data Centre Canal Cooling Project

In order to achieve a 45% reduction in GSK’s energy consumption by 2015 against their 2006 baseline the JCI engineers based at GSK HQ landmark building in Brentford put forward a truly innovative proposal to use the adjacent canal to provide cooling to meet the increasing demand for cooling capacity in the data centre. They proposed that through two heat exchangers, waste heat could be transferred through 1km of newly installed piping to a chiller in a new plantroom where the waste heat would be discharged over a waterfall, dissipating some of the heat before flowing back into the canal.

GSK are to be applauded for supporting a plan which carried significant risks as there was no prior knowledge of exactly how this would work and what impact there might be on the local environment. Everyone knew that there would be significant interest from the Environmental Agency and the British Waterways. The JCI engineers were supported by their company who were also taking on potential risks to their credibility and reputation.

The successful completion of the project in 2009 has given GSK spare cooling capacity for the future and a growing total carbon saving of 276 tonnes each year. By adding oxygen into the canal it has actually improved the quality of the water to support local wildlife and plants, and helped to further develop the relationship with the local community.

The collaboration between all parties involved has resulted in a technology advancement which the judges believe has both UK and global implications for a sustainable future.