By Enterprise Innovation Staff | May 28, 2008

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The colossal SuperNAP data center, set to open in Las Vega in two months, is claimed to be the world's most energy-efficient.

Built by little-known Switch Communications, the 407,000 square-foot (37,800 sq-meter) center The Register reports.

The company's investors are considering building perhaps ten similar centers around the world.

Using its own custom-designed cooling system, it says it can achieve 1,500 watts energy consumption per square foot, nearly three times the industry standard, The Reg said.

CEO Rob Roy claims the company gets "500% or 600% more cooling per cubic feet per minute than everyone else who designs their data centers with raised floors and cooling systems from Liebert."

The facility uses a cooling concept called Thermal Separate Compartment in a Facility (T-SCIF), which ensures that only cooled air reaches the front of servers and storage boxes and does not mingle with the hot air, which is expelled through ducts.

Switch can buy electricity from local utilities at about 5 to 6 cents per kilowatt hour, the report said.