BLOG-POST_HOW STAKEHOLDERS VIEW PUE

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EEC's Data Center & Telecom Insight Blog
Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE)
Perspectives: How Key Data Center
Stakeholders View PUE
Posted by Chris Parlee on Jul 8, 2015
Originally posted on Data Center Post, July 6, 2015
By Daniel Bodenski, Director of Strategic Solutions, PE, LEED AP
When analyzing the effectiveness of a data center, one of the most critical
components to consider is Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE), a metric used
across the board by mission-critical facility implementation teams, data
center owners and operators, and C-level executives to assess a data center’s current and
potential energy efficiency. When used properly, this information can be leveraged to
produce a stronger, more efficient mission-critical environment, gain a deeper
understanding of competition, and open the door to exploring options for added efficiency
improvements such as data center renovations, new builds, or migrations to the cloud or a
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third-party service provider. In order for a facility to both evolve and adapt to ever-changing
industry climates and customer demands, a deep understanding of what lies under the hood
is vital to its success, and data center PUE is no exception.
PUE is by definition the ratio of total energy consumption of a data center including all fuels,
divided by the total energy consumption of IT equipment. It was first developed by the
Green Grid Association in 2007 and quickly became the go-to metric adopted globally to
definitively measure and track data center energy efficiency. Originally designed as an end-
user tool to assist data center operators, today PUE has been implemented throughout all
facets of a facility, providing many benefits to data center owners and operators for the
duration of a data center’s lifecycle. Since PUE is such a versatile tool, understanding how
to properly use it with respect to the different stages and segments of a facility’s lifecycle is
an important step to reaping the highest capacity of its benefits.
Below, we will provide insight into how some of the key stakeholders in the data center’s
lifecycle, including designers, operators and C-suite executives, view the importance of PUE
and how each party uses PUE to satisfy their demands and the demands of their
customers.
Designers
When designing a data center, those in charge of creating a plan that is elegantly simple yet
highly effective are faced with a difficult task. The design features must drive energy

efficiency and innovation, while upholding maximum uptime and simultaneously protecting
against outage threats. Through the use of PUE metrics, a balanced approach can be
developed with clearer insight into how a data center will eventually perform, making it
easier to implement a fresh, energy efficient mechanical/electrical system.
Utilizing environmental factors as well as documented, low-risk strategies such as
increasing the supply air temperature and/or chilled water temperatures are some of the
ways that many designers effectively save overhead costs on energy every day. To
produce optimal results, the design team should adhere to Green Grid’s PUE definition of
components during design and analysis and properly define source energy to ensure their
initial calculations will match ultimate operational results. With PUE in mind, designers have
the right information and knowledge to expertly select the best options for reduction of
overall mechanical system energy use, while reducing risks to uptime.
Operators
In today’s industry, a data center’s operations team is under immense pressure to reduce
energy usage through solutions that not only yield the highest level of results, but fit within
the framework of a live, operational facility. Though PUE is incredibly important to the
operations team, their primary tasks are geared towards ensuring maximum availability for
all critical infrastructure and management of real-time data center planning activities. As a
key performance indicator metric for operations teams, PUE is used to report the overall
effectiveness of the data center to management on a regular basis. By understanding what
is currently happening in regards to energy usage, operators have the opportunity to
determine new and effective ways of reducing power loss, while concurrently using PUE to
justify the energy savings measures taken.
According to the Green Grid, there are three separate levels for measuring PUE, each
providing a unique value proposition:
• Level 1, also referred to as “basic” measurement, allows for IT equipment energy
measurement at Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) output on a weekly or monthly
basis;
• Conversely, level 2, or intermediate measurement, allows for IT equipment energy to
be measured at Power Distribution Unit (PDU) outputs;
• Finally, level 3 is regarded as the most accurate form of measurement, requiring a
high level of technology coordination, data collection, and human interaction. For this

level of accuracy, facilities may install PUE measuring devices such as a kWh meter
with the help of an experienced firm that is fully capable of installing the equipment
and working in a live data center environment.
Executives
C-level data center executives view PUE as a significant factor affecting and influencing the
effectiveness of the facility’s overall IT strategy. For example, Total Cost of Ownership
(TCO) is a key metric used by executives to evaluate strategies to operate within an
enterprise data center, a third-party colocation facility, or cloud provider. While energy
usage typically makes up more than half of total operational costs within a data center,
C-level executives regard technology infrastructure and associated labor as the main
contribution to TCO, and the energy efficiency portion (and associated PUE) at roughly 8 to
15 percent of the TCO. Additionally, within a typical data center setting, a CIO regards PUE
as a main Key Performance Indicator (KPI) and requires regular monitoring of these levels
for presentation to corporate clients or as a metric to potential third-party customers.
By understanding the different professional perspectives of PUE, you can see that this one,
simple metric can be highly impactful in many facets of a mission-critical facility. Through
combined efforts from key stakeholders in the data center’s lifecycle, understanding and
using PUE can mean the difference between a facility that produces continuous long-term
success and one that just falls short.
If you'd like to improve your PUE
Download Our Free eBookDownload Our Free eBook
"6 Steps to Energy Efficiency""6 Steps to Energy Efficiency"
Tags: Energy Efficiency, PUE
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