Allstate Insurance Company, opened a 65,000 sq ft data center in Rochelle, Ill.

This new center is targeted to meet LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

"As part of Allstate's promise to be there for customers in their time of need, we're dedicated to ensuring high availability of critical technology systems," said Catherine Brune, senior vice president and chief information officer of Allstate. "Our new data center introduces sophisticated building design and technologies that reflect our company's dedication to environmental responsibility."

The new facility incorporates eco-friendly building design and energy efficiencies. Large windows to increase natural light, a light-colored roof that reflects sunlight and reduces cooling costs, recycled building components with low toxicity and the latest in energyefficient computer servers are just some of the green strategies being used at this new facility.

"Data centers, by their very nature, tend to be power-hungry, but our team has worked diligently to create a fundamentally different model that will allow us to significantly reduce our projected energy consumption," said Brune. Rochelle, Ill. is an ideal setting for Allstate's new data center, as it's one of the few cities in the U.S. to own and operate its own high capacity, local fiber-optics network. The city also provides its own utilities, including affordable and reliable electricity.

Lots of windows for a data center

Construction started in January, 2008 - the first facility to break ground in the city's new 160-acre Business and Technology Park. Financial services firm Northern Trust is expected to build the second data center on the site.

Sitting comfortably

Allstate posted a video tour of the new facility on Youtube.