GE plugs SynapSense

A SynapSense wireless node

Data center energy management startup SynapSense announced a $5 million funding round and a partnership with GE (NYSE:GE) that could expand SynapSense’s reach.

Folsom-based SynapSense’s wireless systems measure data center temperature, pressure and humidity, potentially eliminating overcooling and saving up to 35 percent in data center cooling costs, according to the company, whose clients include Yahoo! (Nasdaq:YHOO), Facebook and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. GE says it has used SynapSense’s technology in its own data centers, and plans to combine it with its own data center management platform.

In addition to GE, SynapSense’s funding round also included investment from Bosch Venture Capital, American River Ventures, Nth Power, Sequoia Capital, Emerald Technology Ventures and DFJ Frontier.

SynapSense isn’t the only company GE has backed this summer. It participated in a $106 million funding round for smart grid network company Trilliant in July, and announced a $200 million contest called the Ecomagination Challenge, which plans to award winning  smart grid technology innovations with funding and commercial partnerships.