PUE measures the efficiency with which a data center uses energy. A PUE below 1.5 indicates an energy-efficient operations center.
Air vs. Water Cooling for Data Centers
Data center cooling systems stop servers from overheating. Using more advanced cooling systems helps reduce energy use. Even using outside air can help. Effective energy policies can reduce cooling energy consumption by 45% and double the average AC efficiency.
Cooling Techniques Research Data
Researchers conducted a cooling experiment, circulating water at the rear surface of a photovoltaic. They used an aluminum radiator to extract the heat from the photovoltaic. As a result, the temperature of the photovoltaic surface dropped by 32%, and electrical efficiency increased by 57%.
In another study of cooling techniques for photovoltaic modules, experimenters considered three different cooling approaches: water cooling, air cooling, and a combination of the two. Water cooling emerged as the best option for photovoltaic modules in hot weather.
Liquid is more efficient than air at conducting heat, which is why water cooling can help with many issues linked to high data center density. As of 2024, liquid cooling consumes about 10% less energy, which leads to a corresponding 10% reduction in carbon emissions. Does this make it a better option for sustainable web hosting?
Pros and Cons of Liquid Cooling for Data Centers
Energy savings also grow with advances in liquid cooling technology. Immersion cooling can reduce energy expenses by at least 20%, depending on the adoption scale. Operators can cool directly at the heat source using direct-to-chip liquid cooling systems.
This makes facilities less reliant on cooling fans and lets operators save power by raising the ambient temperature of their facilities. Liquid cooling is also quieter and tends to take up less space in the data center, depending on the type of liquid cooling.
On the other hand, it requires a high upfront investment. Fitting liquid cooling systems in data centers involves investments in employee training and significant plumbing work. The maintenance and management processes for traditional air cooling and liquid cooling systems are very different.
What’s more, liquid cooling comes with a risk of leaks, which can cause downtime and damage data center equipment.
Cooling Cost
Cooling costs make up about 40% of the total power usage cost. Despite the high initial investment, liquid cooling is more cost-efficient over time. It’s not straightforward to calculate the total cost of ownership because of management complexity and getting locked in by vendors.
Choose Renewable Energy Sources
Solid energy management systems monitor and optimize data center energy use. These systems can help reduce wasteful consumption and identify areas of improvement. It’s always recommended to choose data centers that rely on solar power, wind power, or another renewable energy source.
Implement an Energy-efficient Server
Determine the nature of the applications and services the server will run. Resource demands vary depending on the applications, which can include database management or virtualization. Check how much processing power, memory, and storage your web hosting setup will need.
Then, evaluate the efficiency of the CPU. Choose a server with the latest generation of CPUs that offer better performance per watt. Look for processors designed with energy efficiency in mind, such as Intel’s Xeon Scalable.
The ENERGY STAR certification indicates that the server meets the US EPA’s energy efficiency standards. The 80 PLUS certification ensures high energy efficiency at various load levels.
