Comparing PUE Between Colocation

Data Centers – And Why It Matters

WHAT IS PUE?

PUE is the ratio of all energy consumed by the data center to the
energy actually consumed by the IT equipment. It tells you how much
energy your IT is using and how much goes to data center overhead.

There are two types of PUE:

ANNUALIZED PUE PEAK PUE

ANNUALIZED PUE

Annualized PUE is the ratio of the average energy consumption of

the entire data center to the average energy consumption by the IT
equipment alone. It takes into account a full year’s worth of energy
consumption peaks and valleys, which often correlate to the hottest
and the coldest days of the year.

Average Daily Energy Consumption by

-
+ + +
Cooling Power Lighting IT
ANNUALIZED
PUE
= Average Daily Energy Consumption by

IT

PEAK PUE

Peak PUE is the ratio of total energy consumed by the data center
to energy consumed by the IT equipment alone during peak load
conditions – for example, on the hottest day of the year.

Energy Consumption at Peak Load by

-
+ + +
Cooling Power Lighting IT
PEAK PUE = Energy Consumption at Peak Load by

IT

WHAT ANNUALIZED PUE IS GOOD FOR WHAT PEAK PUE IS GOOD FOR

• Measuring a data center’s • Measuring a data center’s efficiency in

operational efficiency a worst-case scenario, at maximum load

• Calculating a tenant’s monthly • Describes the scale of data center’s

energy costs power and cooling infrastructure

The lower The greater

*Buyer Beware: the PUE its efficiency
Depending on a center’s
capacity at time of purchase, The lower The greater the
the PUE % energy that
some providers alter this
can be used for
number in their cost IT load instead
of overhead

HOW PUE IMPACTS YOU?

Annualized PUE Annualized PUE Annualized PUE

1.15 1.2 1.7
HYPERSCALERS HIGH END
DATA CENTERS

4.9M KWh

$ $ $
Energy saved compared
to high end centers.
Enough to power 453
homes for a year.

=
Energy
cost over $6.9M $7.2M $10.2M
10 years

saves you 4% more 48% more

$ $ $
than than

Assumptions: Same location, 1 MW footprint, Annualized PUE 1.2 and Annualized PUE 1.7
$.06/kWh utility rate with 3% annual increase Source: June 2016 United States Data Center Energy Usage
Report by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Peak PUE 80% Peak PUE

1.25 1.7
(ASHRAE Standard)

HYPERSCALERS HIGH END

DATA CENTERS

Power load Power load

al
El

ic
ec

an
tri

Elec nical
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ca

trica a
Mech
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l

80% available for

59%
available for
IT load IT load

= Room to grow
Peak PUE 1.7 Source: ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 90.4-2016

WHAT YOU CAN DO?

a. Dive deeper into PUE and what it means for you – download the White Paper
Comparing PUE Between Colocation DataCenters – And Why It Matters

?
Download

b. Arm yourself with the questions to ask as you compare colocation providers on their PUE –
Get the tip sheet 8 PUE Questions to Ask When Comparing Colocation Providers

Download

c. Come see for yourself – schedule a data center tour

Schedule

www.aligneddatacenters.com