The surge in AI-related computing demand requires more power and cooling than typical enterprise IT. With that demand comes other complexities like growing regulations that define PUE standards. Data centers must find ways to improve profitability by reducing energy waste through heightened facility energy efficiency. In turn, such improvements can garner better permitting for greenfield data centers that demonstrate leading PUE.

Today’s consumers expect always-on connectivity — a chronic appetite that puts data centers in the hotseat for keeping all systems optimized for the “five 9s” — 99.999% uptime. This means data centers need a comprehensive uptime strategy that ensures cooling systems, integrated facility energy strategies, and backup power systems all work effectively toward the five 9s.

Data center companies must contend with a complex mix of legacy, brownfield, and greenfield facilities. The challenge is to squeeze every last drop of practical, economic performance out of legacy data centers while implementing best practices from Day 1 at new facilities.

With rising electricity consumption comes heightened environmental and emissions footprints. After years of declining Scope 2 electricity emissions, many data center operators and tenants are seeing upticks due to AI-driven computing demand and energy consumption. From public pressure, to media scrutiny, government programs, corporations’ voluntary sustainability targets, and co-lo data center landlords wanting to stay competitive in attracting tenants, reducing emissions is more important than ever.