While the drive for sustainability has become imperative for many data center operators, the path for efficiency isn’t as clear. Faced with the task of balancing technological advancements and reliable uptime with practical implementation, some data center operators find themselves facing complexity and struggling to identify where to begin.

Often, the most impactful gains can be achieved by optimizing existing systems and refining operational processes. At the same time, some operators are beginning to plan for new technologies, such as liquid-to-chip cooling, which can integrate into traditional setups. Regardless of approach, data center operators who focus on practical, actionable improvements can unlock significant efficiencies, reduce energy consumption, and pave the way for a more sustainable future without unbalancing their business model.

The sustainability disconnect

Sustainability is becoming a key differentiator, with 97 percent of data center operators reporting customer interest in eco-friendly practices. However, only 43 percent have a clear strategy to achieve infrastructure efficiency. A typical sustainability checklist might include server virtualization, power supply upgrades, high-efficiency voltages, and advanced cooling systems.

Some operators even consider location-based advantages, such as moving operations to cooler climates or leveraging renewable energy sources. While these innovations are undoubtedly valuable, they can also be resource- and capital-intensive, with a much longer return on investment.

Typically, improving efficiency isn’t dependent on a new, major investment or complex technology. While automated building management systems (BMS) and advanced cooling methods, such as emerging liquid cooling strategies, offer gains, many efficiencies can still be achieved by refining existing processes.

Optimizing density, managing airflow containment, and reconfiguring layouts can yield significant benefits without requiring costly facility overhauls. While IT advancements have dramatically reduced power consumption, opportunities exist beyond IT by enhancing current facility systems rather than replacing them for meaningful PUE savings.

Adventures in cooling

The goal of sustainability initiatives is to minimize the gap between a data center’s energy input and the power needed for operations. When viewed in this light, sustainable solutions aren’t always about new infrastructure; many cost-effective operational improvements remain underutilized. When we look at cooling in particular, we can see how a simple focus on existing airflow delivery, airflow floor tiles, and computer room air handler-chilled water (CRAH)/computer room air conditioner-refrigerant (CRAC) management can go a long way in making sustainability gains, while creating the foundation for newer cooling strategies.

Airflow delivery

Airflow delivery is often compromised by leaks in unsealed floor openings and cable cutouts, allowing conditioned air to escape instead of reaching servers. Blanking plates and partitions help mitigate this by directing airflow precisely where needed, reducing bypass, and preventing hotspots. These low-cost solutions can significantly improve cooling efficiency, yet many data centers fail to implement them due to infrequent airflow assessments.

Floor tiles

Airflow floor tiles with adjustable dampers optimize cooling by fine-tuning airflow on a per-cabinet basis. Since not all server racks require the same cooling, dampers allow for precise adjustments down to 0.01 inches of water column pressure. However, many data centers either lack dampers or fail to adjust them regularly. With careful airflow measurement, dampers can be adjusted dynamically to match changing heat loads, ensuring consistent and efficient cooling.

Cooling units

CRAH and CRAC management is critical, as these high-energy systems are often underutilized or misconfigured. Optimizing these units involves adjusting set points, shutting down or modulating unnecessary units, and rotating lead and lag units to balance workload. Installing and adjusting backdraft dampers prevents cool air loss, while enabling economizer mode or team mode enhances overall efficiency. Despite their energy impact, many data centers don’t monitor or adjust cooling demands frequently enough.

By proactively monitoring and adjusting these three key areas – airflow delivery, floor tile dampers, and CRAH/CRAC management – data centers can improve cooling efficiency, reduce energy waste, and maintain optimal operating conditions.

Liquid-to-chip efficiency gains

The re-emergence of water-cooled, liquid-to-chip hardware presents a significant opportunity to drive high-efficiency gains in data center infrastructure. Emerging design trends indicate a shift where up to 75 percent of the power load can be supported by direct liquid cooling, while the remaining 25 percent continues to rely on more traditional air-cooled systems.

This transition enables facilities to move away from refrigerant-based cooling for the majority of IT workloads, reducing both complexity and environmental impact. By implementing simple, cost-effective closed-loop water systems, operators can achieve an annual average Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) in the range of 1.1 to 1.2 – without the added expense and operational burden of airside economizers.

Small changes, big gains

As cooling systems demonstrate, data centers gradually become inefficient over time. Due to suboptimal initial deployments and inconsistencies in following operational best practices, rather than design flaws. This phenomenon applies to other operational systems as well. With electrical systems, all kinds of inefficiencies permeate data centers, from outdated breaker settings to misconfigured lighting to unutilized UPS energy-saving modes.

The same thing is true with mechanical systems, from mismatched humidity setpoints to unused economizer settings to inaccurate temperature gauges. The impact of improvements in areas like these create excellent PUE advancements, cost savings and reliability gains. When also integrating BMS, critical facilities can support long-term sustainability efforts with real-time monitoring and adaptive controls for enhanced operational efficiency.

Achieving a more sustainable future for data centers may seem overwhelmingly complex, but even small, practical changes can make a meaningful impact. By adopting this perspective, experienced data center operators can break down barriers to implementation but also lay the groundwork for integrating advanced technologies. This dual approach supports both immediate progress and long-term success.