March 16th  2023 - News

The environmental impact of data centers: Understanding PUE

Energy efficiency: what is PUE?

PUE (Power Usage Effectiveness) is one of the key metrics for assessing how efficiently a data center uses its energy. It is calculated by dividing the total amount of energy used by the data center (including energy used by servers, storage, network equipment, cooling systems and lighting) by the energy used by the IT equipment (server, storage, network).

The PUE of a data center is expressed as a ratio. The lower the PUE, the more efficient the data center is in terms of energy consumption. A PUE of 1.0 means that all the energy used by the data center is consumed by the IT equipment, which is the ideal situation. While a PUE of 2.0 means that half of the energy used by the data center is consumed by the IT equipment and the other half by the infrastructure.

PUE (Power Usage Effectiveness) is one of the key metrics for assessing how efficiently a data center uses its energy. It is calculated by dividing the total amount of energy used by the data center (including energy used by servers, storage, network equipment, cooling systems and lighting) by the energy used by the IT equipment (server, storage, network).

The PUE of a data center is expressed as a ratio. The lower the PUE, the more efficient the data center is in terms of energy consumption. A PUE of 1.0 means that all the energy used by the data center is consumed by the IT equipment, which is the ideal situation. While a PUE of 2.0 means that half of the energy used by the data center is consumed by the IT equipment and the other half by the infrastructure.

PUE Level of Efficieny
3.0 Very inefficient
2.5 Inefficient
2.0 Average
1.5 Efficient
1,2 Very efficient

The European Union specifies that a PUE > 2.5 is too high. It is usually found between 1.1 and 2.

The European Union specifies that a PUE > 2.5 is too high. It is usually found between 1.1 and 2.

Why reduce PUE?

Data centers use a significant amount of energy to operate, especially when the data center is located in an area with high ambient temperatures, or if it must operate at a high power density. The cost of this energy may represent a significant portion of the total operating cost of the data center. Data centers also have a significant environmental impact due to their energy consumption, so reducing PUE can help significantly reduce their carbon footprints.

PUE is therefore an important indicator. It is directly related to the cost of operating the data center and the environmental impact of its energy consumption. A data center with the correct PUE is generally considered more efficient and sustainable. For your information, the global average PUE in 2022 has been estimated at 1.55.
Achieving a low PUE can be a complex and ongoing challenge. There is a balance to be struck between energy efficiency and ensuring that the data center is able to meet the performance and availability requirements of its users.

Data centers use a significant amount of energy to operate, especially when the data center is located in an area with high ambient temperatures, or if it must operate at a high power density. The cost of this energy may represent a significant portion of the total operating cost of the data center. Data centers also have a significant environmental impact due to their energy consumption, so reducing PUE can help significantly reduce their carbon footprints.

PUE is therefore an important indicator. It is directly related to the cost of operating the data center and the environmental impact of its energy consumption. A data center with the correct PUE is generally considered more efficient and sustainable. For your information, the global average PUE in 2022 has been estimated at 1.55.
Achieving a low PUE can be a complex and ongoing challenge. There is a balance to be struck between energy efficiency and ensuring that the data center is able to meet the performance and availability requirements of its users.

Energy efficiency in our Tier IV Aurora data center

Aqua Ray is targeting carbon neutrality. Our main Aurora data center has an efficient PUE of < 1.39 for the year 2022. Quarterly results include:

Aqua Ray is targeting carbon neutrality. Our main Aurora data center has an efficient PUE of < 1.39 for the year 2022. Quarterly results include:

Aurora's quarterly PUE results in 2022

How to reduce PUE?

Several factors can impact the PUE of a data center:

Several factors can impact the PUE of a data center:

  • the efficiency of the power and cooling systems;
  • the design and configuration of the data center infrastructure;
  • ambient temperature and humidity.

As previously stated, data centers require a significant amount of energy to operate. Reducing their energy consumption can be a challenge.
One way to improve the PUE of a data center is to optimize the cooling system. To do this, you must:

As previously stated, data centers require a significant amount of energy to operate. Reducing their energy consumption can be a challenge.
One way to improve the PUE of a data center is to optimize the cooling system. To do this, you must:

  • design the cooling system to minimize energy consumption;
  • monitoring and adjusting the system on a regular basis to maximize efficiency
  • implementing measures such as shutting down equipment when it is not in use.

Another important factor in improving data center PUE is proper maintenance and monitoring. Regularly checking and adjusting data center systems ensures that they are operating optimally, identifying and then resolving any issues that may affect PUE.

Another important factor in improving data center PUE is proper maintenance and monitoring. Regularly checking and adjusting data center systems ensures that they are operating optimally, identifying and then resolving any issues that may affect PUE.

In addition to the PUE

It is necessary to ensure that the infrastructure, such as servers and storage systems, is designed and configured to be as efficient as possible. This may involve:

It is necessary to ensure that the infrastructure, such as servers and storage systems, is designed and configured to be as efficient as possible. This may involve:

  • the use of energy efficient hardware ;
  • using virtualization to consolidate servers and reduce energy consumption;
  • using energy saving features such as power management software.

Evaluating the origin and carbon impact of the electricity consumed is important to measure its environmental impact. Using renewable energy sources (solar, wind, hydro) with a very low carbon impact helps reduce the environmental impact of data centers. However, today, the sources generally used to power them have a significant carbon impact, whether fossil fuels or nuclear energy.

Evaluating the origin and carbon impact of the electricity consumed is important to measure its environmental impact. Using renewable energy sources (solar, wind, hydro) with a very low carbon impact helps reduce the environmental impact of data centers. However, today, the sources generally used to power them have a significant carbon impact, whether fossil fuels or nuclear energy.

Even if France has not yet reached its climate objectives, the French energy mix is considered one of the cleanest in the world in terms of carbon impact.

Even if France has not yet reached its climate objectives, the French energy mix is considered one of the cleanest in the world in terms of carbon impact.

PUE has become an industry standard for assessing energy efficiency in data centers. It allows companies to monitor and improve their energy efficiency, which can help reduce costs and greenhouse gas emissions.

PUE has become an industry standard for assessing energy efficiency in data centers. It allows companies to monitor and improve their energy efficiency, which can help reduce costs and greenhouse gas emissions.

It is important to note that PUE does not take into account :

It is important to note that PUE does not take into account :

  • the environmental impact related to the production of the energy consumed by data centers;
  • the environmental impact of construction;
  • maintenance;
  • the end of life of the equipment used;
  • the different aspects of energy efficiency in a data center.

Therefore, PUE should not be used as the sole indicator. There are several other metrics that can be used in conjunction with PUE to assess the energy efficiency of a data center. Some of the more commonly used indicators are:

Therefore, PUE should not be used as the sole indicator. There are several other metrics that can be used in conjunction with PUE to assess the energy efficiency of a data center. Some of the more commonly used indicators are:

  • DCiE (Data Center Infrastructure Efficiency) which measures the energy efficiency of a data center's workload. It is the proportion of energy used for IT applications and services to the total energy consumed by the data center.
  • WUE (Water Usage Effectiveness) measures the use of water in a data center. It is calculated by dividing the amount of water used for cooling by the amount of energy used by the servers.
  • CUE (Carbon Usage Effectiveness) measures the carbon emissions associated with the operation of a data center. It is calculated by dividing the carbon emissions by the amount of energy used by the servers.
  • ERE (Energy Reuse Effectiveness) measures the efficiency of reusing dissipated energy. It is calculated by dividing the reused energy by the total dissipated energy.

By monitoring these different energy efficiency indicators together, it is possible to get a complete picture of a data center's performance and identify areas for improvement.

By monitoring these different energy efficiency indicators together, it is possible to get a complete picture of a data center's performance and identify areas for improvement.

By choosing a local data center (for exemple France, which has a smaller carbon footprint than the US or Germany) you too can help reduce the climate impact of its Cloud service.

By choosing a local data center (for exemple France, which has a smaller carbon footprint than the US or Germany) you too can help reduce the climate impact of its Cloud service.

Contact us

Contact us

Any question ? A doubt ? A particular request ? Do not hesitate to contact us by clicking on this button below, we will answer you as quickly as possible.

Any question ? A doubt ? A particular request ? Do not hesitate to contact us by clicking on this button below, we will answer you as quickly as possible.

Did you like this article? You might also like

03
Jan

The Sovereign Cloud does not exist

News

On this Europe Day, Raphael Nicoud (President of Aqua Ray), retunrs to the importance for the European Union to develop a digital sovereignty strategy and how Aqua Ray can contribute to it in response to the hegemony of the American giants.

Continue
Nov
2023

The environmental impact of data centers: Understanding WUE

News

WUE is one of the key metrics for assessing how efficiently a data center uses its energy. Read more in this article.

Continue
03
Jan

The Sovereign Cloud does not exist

News

On this Europe Day, Raphael Nicoud (President of Aqua Ray), retunrs to the importance for the European Union to develop a digital sovereignty strategy and how Aqua Ray can contribute to it in response to the hegemony of the American giants.

Continue
Nov
2023

The environmental impact of data centers: Understanding WUE

News

WUE is one of the key metrics for assessing how efficiently a data center uses its energy. Read more in this article.

Continue
03
Jan

The Sovereign Cloud does not exist

News

On this Europe Day, Raphael Nicoud (President of Aqua Ray), retunrs to the importance for the European Union to develop a digital sovereignty strategy and how Aqua Ray can contribute to it in response to the hegemony of the American giants.

Continue
Nov
2023

The environmental impact of data centers: Understanding WUE

News

WUE is one of the key metrics for assessing how efficiently a data center uses its energy. Read more in this article.

Continue
Need assistance? Call us now!
Call us now! 01 84 04 04 05
Call us now! 01 84 04 04 05
DC Tier IV
AFNOR Certification ISO27001
AFNOR Certification HDS